Left in the cold: some Para Transpo buses pulled off road after heat stopped working

OC Transpo has sidelined some of its new Para Transpo buses due to heating issues. CTV’s Leah Larocque reports.

OC Transpo has pulled some of its new Para Transpo minibuses off the road because their heating stopped working.

The transit service says 5 out of the 41 seven-meter buses had “mechanical defects” with the HVAC system.

“These issues are not systemic across the fleet. As soon as heating concerns were identified, the vehicles were removed from service, as heat is a mandatory requirement,” OC Transpo said in a statement to CTV News.

OC Transpo also says all their vehicles have a rigorous onboarding process including “extensive road and systems testing, before entering service.”

“As with any new vehicle, issues can arise once in operation, which is why warranties are in place and defects are addressed immediately with the manufacturer,” OC Transpo wrote.

Catherine Gardner, a Para Transpo user, says she now wears two winter coats when ordering a ride, because she worries the bus won’t have heat.

“Some of the busses are newer and just from experience (it is) freezing on the buses,” she says.

“These are brand new buses that have just come in the later part of 2025, and yet the heating is a problem. Why is OC Transpo still accepting new buses when they know that the present ones have a heating issue.”

Gardner and other uses have also raised concerns about the seatbelts in the new minibuses. She says not all these buses have an extension belt. Other times, the bus’s lone seatbelt may already be in use. Gardner also says many of these seatbelts become twisted and unusable.

OC Transpo says seatbelt adjustments have been made following customer feedback to improve comfort and accommodate different needs.

“The wheelchair securing system is the same model used on Para Transpo vehicles since 2014 and meets all federal accessibility requirements. Vehicle layout and the number of mobility devices permitted onboard are governed by federal legislation and are required to be followed by the bus manufacturers,” OC Transpo’s statement reads.

Gardner says she worries problems will arise all winter.

“When are they going to be fixed? Are they going to be fixed for this winter or are we going to struggle all winter having to wear two coats, mittens and hats on the bus. If this was a conventional service, there would be public outcry,” she said.

“A lot of people will not speak up either, even though they are cold, because they’re afraid of losing their service. “

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