The Tories are hoping that the government today will do away with restrictions on who can, and who cannot, ride the school bus.

Currently, anyone who lives within 1.6 km of their school has to find their own way there regardless of their age. Road safety is not taken into consideration either, whether it’s a narrow two-lane road or a multi-lane city highway.

The government has called a news conference this morning regarding school transportation.

PC Education Critic, Barry Petten, says the Liberals have refused to budge on the issue despite repeated calls to do so from his party. Petten brought a Private Member’s Bill to the House of Assembly a few years ago to end the restrictions, but he’s disappointed that the government has not yet acted.

The news conference, with Premier Andrew Furey, his education minister, both school boards, and school councils, takes place at Hazelwood Elementary at 10:30 a.m.