‘Our proper channels don’t work:’ OC Transpo driver explains why he took issues public

Chris Grover had been hoping someone else would speak up.

The bus operator behind an open letter, criticising OC Transpo for cancelling bus trips and not being honest about route timing and driver exhaustion issues, is responding to City of Ottawa General Manager of Transportation Services John Manconi, who suggested operators should run their complaints through “proper channels.”

Grover said Wednesday, after watching a veteran city councilor like Gloucester-Southgate's Diane Deans complain about the lack of transparancy around transit, he wasn't confident his issues would be taken seriously.

“As a bottom-rung employee, my chances of actually having a constructive, two-way discussion on this issue… they're slim to none,” he said. “Really they're somewhere between none and none. So our proper channels don't work.”

Grover's letter highlighted the “grossly inadequate” run times for bus route trips. He said bus schedules are unrealistic, buses are late, and drivers are stressed because they're constantly trying to make up time and not getting the breaks they deserve.

He decided to speak out when he saw a report about the discrepancy between the actual number of bus trips being cancelled by OC Transpo and cancellations being shared with the public.

“The fact that we can't deliver the service that we wanted to deliver — transit isn't perfect, you're never going to get everything right — but when we are creating our own 'alternative facts,' that bothers me,” said Grover. “We are supposed to be an organ that's sort of owned and for the public.”

The bus driver added that he appreciates every message of support from people who've reached out in the wake of his letter.

Grover's message to Ottawa commuters is simple: “Bus operators feel your pain and we're on your side.”