Problems with older P.E.I. school buses leads gov't to take fleet off roads

About 80 of the Island's 320 school buses were pulled off the roads on Wednesday afternoon, while all of the remaining buses will be taken out of service Thursday and Friday for inspections.

Jean Doherty, a spokeswoman for the province's Education Department, says inspectors are looking for signs of excessive corrosion in the wheel wells.

She says one of the older vehicles inspected recently showed high levels of corrosion around the wheel well, prompting further inspections of older buses this week and Wednesday's decision to examine the entire fleet.

Education Minister Gerard Greenan says the buses will not run until the province is "satisfied with the results of the completed inspections."

"At the same time, we feel it is important for classes to continue," Greenan said in a statement. "We regret the inconvenience this may cause for parents but we know that this is what parents would want, and they will appreciate the reasons behind it."

The decision applies to the Eastern School District, the Western School Board and the French Language school board.

The schools will remain open, though parents will have to find their own transport to the schools.