B.C. school buses travel over 33 million kilometres each year, the equivalent of 43 round trips to the moon.

As part of its annual fleet renewal program, government is providing $14 million for 37 school districts around the province to purchase a total of 125 new buses.

Once again this year, the Ministry of Education has negotiated bulk pricing agreements with school bus vendors. Bulk pricing was introduced by government for the first time last year and resulted in savings of 10 to 15 per cent. Previously, school districts negotiated bus pricing individually. Contractors, Independent schools and First Nations schools also are able to take advantage of the bulk pricing agreements.

B.C. student transportation services cost more than $90 million annually. Approximately 1,200 buses are owned and operated by school districts, and another 600 school buses are operated by contractors. Buses are regularly replaced when they reach certain milestones in years or kilometres driven.

Quote:

Don McRae, Minister of Education -

"Renewing our fleet of buses helps to keep students safe and lower our carbon emissions. By pooling our purchasing power across school districts, we can negotiate better prices and direct those savings into classrooms."

Quick Facts:

• Districts receive buses with wheelchair lifts where required.
• New diesel school buses reduce exhaust particulate emissions by 90 per cent compared to the previous 1994 standard.
• New diesel bus engines have longer lives and produce 30 per cent to 60 per cent better mileage than gasoline-powered engines.

Learn More:

BC's Education Plan: http://www.bcedplan.ca/

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963 (Media line)

BACKGROUNDER

Province invests $14 million for new school buses

The following school districts have received provincial funding to update their fleets.

Southeast Kootenay (SD 5): $405,392
Three buses

Rocky Mountain (SD 6): $526,582
Five buses

Kootenay Lake (SD 8): $421,266
Four buses

Kootenay-Columbia (SD 20): $270,262
Two buses

Vernon (SD 22): $526,582
Five buses

Central Okanagan (SD 23): $405,392
Three buses

Cariboo-Chilcotin (SD 27): $1,710,242
Sixteen buses

Chilliwack (SD 33): $195,238
Two buses

Abbotsford (SD 34): $277,567
Three buses

Langley (SD 35): $214,013
Two buses

Surrey (SD 36): $315,949
Three buses

Richmond (SD 38): $194,405
Two buses

North Vancouver (SD 44): $103,136
One bus

Sunshine Coast (SD 46): $78,011
One bus

Powell River (SD 47): $510,709
Four buses

Howe Sound (SD 48): $135,131
One bus

Boundary (SD 51): $540,523
Four buses

Okanagan Similkameen (SD 53): $135,131
One bus

Bulkley Valley (SD 54): $315,949
Three buses

Nicola-Similkameen (SD58): $210,633
Two buses

Peace River South (SD 59): $421,266
Four buses

Peace River North (SD 60): $1,340,161
Twelve buses

Sooke (SD 62): $116,394
One bus

Saanich (SD 63): $243,827
Two buses

Gulf Islands (SD 64): $270,262
Two buses

Okanagan Skaha (SD 67): $270,262
Two buses

Nanaimo-Ladysmith (SD 68): $540,523
Four buses

Qualicum (SD 69): $540,523
Four buses

Alberni (SD 70): $68,069
One bus

Kamloops/ Thompson (SD 73): $842,532
Eight buses

Gold Trail (SD 74): $292,857
Three buses

Mission (SD 75): $78,011
One bus

Okanagan-Shuswap (SD 83): $631,899
Six buses

Vancouver Island West (SD 84): $97,619
One bus

Vancouver Island North (SD 85): $324,847
Three buses

Nechako Lakes (SD 91): $405,392
Three buses

Nisga'a (SD 92): $105,316
One bus

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963 (Media line)