WHEREAS it is becoming harder to conduct business in rural Saskatchewan; and

WHEREAS the cost of using a courier service is very costly; and

WHEREAS most small businesses in rural Saskatchewan depend on the STC for more affordable shipping needs; and

WHEREAS STC is again planning to cut service to rural Saskatchewan;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM work with the Provincial Government and STC to develop a plan to ensure that small business in rural Saskatchewan can remain viable.

Response from the Honourable Jennifer Campeau, Minister Responsible for STC

As a Crown corporation,STC's mandate is to be a provincial coach company which provides safe,affordable and accessible bus passenger and freight  services to Saskatchewan. STC continuously strives to find a balance between the needs of customers and the cost of services to Saskatchewan taxpayers. As part ofthe recent fiscal restraint measures undertaken by government, STC recently reduced the frequency of service along nine schedules. It is important to note that no communities saw an elimination of service due to these changes.

STC is not in a position  to develop a plan that  would expand its service during this time of fiscal restraint. STC currently provides freight  services to over 170 communities within the province and connects with other private carriers to provide further points of parcel express service in Saskatchewan and across Canada.

The Company would  be willing to consider entering into more interline arrangements  with private operators. who could connect with STC schedules.   The independent carrier could operate its own specific route and then connect with an STC route,providing passengers and/or freight customers with seamless connectivity to the provincial network. Whether such arrangements  would be feasible to the private operators would depend in large measure on the business volumes that could be expected.

STC would be pleased to discuss the matte rfurther with yourself or representatives of the RM of Blaine Lake.  Please contact Mr. Bob Bailey, Director Business Development for STC, to let him know if you or other representatives from SARM would be interested in discussing the interline arrangement option. Mr. Bailey can be reached at 306-787-4583.

Thank you again for taking the time to address your issues and for showing concern for the members of your association.