VANCOUVER--The Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia is calling on the province to step in and avert the reduction of approximately 10,000 hours of transit service in Greater Victoria. Citing declining revenues, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission voted to cut transit service in a budget vote on Tuesday.

"The Government of BC has made a public commitment to making BC a leader in sustainable living," said CFS-BC Chairperson Nimmi Takkar. "Robust public transit service is integral to that commitment."

Student efforts have resulted in the Victoria Regional Transit Commission expanding service in recent years, including adding late-night service to Camosun College and the University of Victoria. The service cuts approved on Tuesday may jeopardize access to public transit for students who are already struggling to make ends meet.

"From an environmental and financial perspective, university and college students need public transit access," said Takkar. "More public funding is necessary to avert service cuts."The Canadian Federation of Students is composed of 150,000 students in British Columbia from 17 university and college students' unions. Post-secondary students in Canada have been represented by the Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organisations since 1927.