The mayor of North Cowichan is calling on British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation and BC Transit to step in and help end the Cowichan transit strike. This ongoing strike, which began on February 8, has now become the longest public transit strike in the province’s history and is causing serious hardship across the Cowichan Valley.
Mayor Rob Douglas has written directly to the province’s Minister of Transportation and Transit, Mike Farnworth, to express his growing concern. He says that the strike is severely affecting residents in North Cowichan and surrounding communities. Many people rely on public transit for daily life, and without it, they are being left behind.
Douglas pointed out that seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents are suffering the most. These groups often depend fully on buses to get to essential places like hospitals, workplaces, grocery stores, and government services. Routes connecting communities like Crofton, Chemainus, Maple Bay, and Berkey’s Corner to the region’s main commercial areas are shut down, leaving many stranded.
The strike involves 52 members of the Unifor union who work for Transdev Canada. This group includes bus drivers, cleaners, and mechanics. They are demanding wages similar to transit workers in Victoria. They are also asking for better washroom access, official break times, and fairer working conditions. On July 6, they rejected the province’s mediator’s recommendations, saying they didn’t meet their core needs.
Community groups have also raised the alarm about the growing crisis. The Chemainus Harvest House Society, which runs food banks in several local communities, has reported heart-wrenching stories from residents. Many people can’t even access phones or the internet, making it impossible to get medicine, attend medical appointments, file taxes, or apply for ID.
Even more tragically, Mayor Douglas shared that two residents reportedly died because they couldn’t get emergency medical care. They had no way to reach help in time. The effects of the strike are also being felt by the Clements Centre Society, an organization that supports people with developmental disabilities. More than 100 of its clients are now stuck at home. With no buses running, they can’t reach jobs, medical care, or community programs.
Douglas emphasized that this situation goes far beyond inconvenience. The transit shutdown is now a serious public issue that needs direct government involvement. He stressed that simply relying on mediation will not be enough to resolve it.
He is asking the province to take immediate action by talking directly with both the union and the company involved. The goal is to bring all parties to the table to find a solution and bring back critical bus services to the region.
The Cowichan transit strike continues with no clear end in sight, and the pressure is growing on provincial leaders to step in. With more lives being affected every day, many believe the time for stronger action is now.
The mayor hopes that the province will soon listen to the community’s urgent calls and help restore the transit system that so many residents rely on.
