Drivers wanted: Halifax Transit looking to return to full service by the end of summer
A push is on to fill job openings with Halifax Transit.
There are roughly 42 vacancies within the public transit service, according to Maggie-Jane Spray, a spokesperson for Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).
Based on the city’s current hiring plan, the hope is to get back to full service with a full complement of staff by late summer.
“That doesn’t necessarily align with tourism season, however, we typically see our biggest increase in ridership in the fall, when students return back for school,” said Spray in an interview with CTV News.
But the business community thinks there’s still room for to grow.
“I think a reliable transit service is really important for downtown businesses,” said Patrick Sullivan, the president and CEO of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. “It’s important for businesses all around Halifax.”
Once the city meets its previous levels of service, Sullivan says he would like to see the transit system enhanced.
“It’s important for people to be able to get to work, return from work; reduce the number of cars on the road. All of that is very, very important to both small and large businesses,” Sullivan said.
Spray says Halifax Transit currently has budget approval for 640 positions.
Bus driver Dilshad Aulkh has been behind the wheel for two years. He says it’s a career worth pursuing.
”It’s a stable job and it’s a government job with benefits, so that’s why I’m in,” said Aulkh.
To recruit more operators like Aulkh, representatives from Halifax Transit will be at a job fair Saturday in Porter’s Lake, N.S.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.