The Skinny on Transportation Proposals

Transport de Clare is/was a society geared to provide wheelchair transport in the district of Clare, which is a district unto itself and not part of Digby. It has its own government and everything. It was "happy" fulfilling its mandate. Then last year its president declared to me and to anyone who would listen that he intended to not restrict himself to wheelchair service and intended to go out and service the general population like I do. Furthermore, he declared to me that he "WANTED" Digby, Digby Neck and Islands and Bear River. Further to that, he intended to remain subsidized, too.
He went out and plunked down a van in Bear River, as if claiming it for his own, and later admitted that he has only had a couple of calls. Even the owner of the anchor business in that community admits that there seems to be little interest in his service.
The Da Bus not for profit Society was started out of Digby Neck and area and produced and matched the same proposal to council as Trans de C. This society did not have an accessible van but declared that with approval of their proposal, they would go out and get one, with funding and corporate donations.
The municipal councilors did not want to know the numbers of need for a)an accessible van b)how many people were mobility challenged and needing the service. They did not want a study to find out.
This is yours and my money.
Two identical proposals.
One difference: one headed by a man. one spearheaded by a woman, with a board of mostly women.
A *Forum* is defined as a discussion of matters or issues. Look it up. T de C held a forum at which when two questions were allowed, and these two were against T de C, the questions were cut off abruptly and any further questions not allowed.
The "audience" was divided into groups, each at which one of his attendants was stationed. They produced a list of questions designed to elicit favourable responses to T de C. When someone in one group (I was there to witness this) asked if he could get a word in edgewise and ask a question and voice an opinion, the attendant said no, there were a set of questions that had to be followed and that was that.
Outside, at a break, I was able to get one question in to this attendant. I asked if any of the T de C drivers were hired. The answer was yes, they were drivers from Clare. I asked what they did in the areas they intended to service. The answer was oh they had a whole list of volunteers in those areas. They didn't need to...(and she cut herself off before saying "to pay them").
Trans de Clare has a municipal councillor on their board!
Da Bus would be providing THE SAME SUBSIDIZED RATES AS TRANSPORT DE CLARE. Da Bus is in the municipal structure of the Digby area. Any drivers would be hired here.

Go phone your councilor right now. You know this setup is wrong. Phone Maritza Adams, Jim MacAlpine, Linda Gregory.