Tom Cretain says that since Global News started airing his story after he lost his HandyDART service of 28 years, he has been getting lots of calls, but hasn’t made much progress.
Cretain has spinal muscular atrophy and uses a special wheelchair.
He said he has now received calls from TransLink’s CEO and the company that runs HandyDART, Transdev.
“Before I spoke to Global News, nobody would talk to me above the people who get to the phones,” Cretain said.
But he’s not feeling that optimistic, he said.
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“It’s kind of up and down. One minute they seem engaging; the next minute they are not,” Cretain added.
In an updated statement on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson from TransLink said, “Cretain’s mobility device exceeds the operating specifications of the vehicles and securement equipment currently available through HandyDART and its contracted wheelchair-accessible taxi services.”
The organization said that it has arranged for a mobility expert to meet with Cretain later this week and that person will assess his mobility and transportation needs and help identify “safe and appropriate options for the short to medium term, including whether an independent transportation provider or another arrangement can safely meet his needs.”
TransLink said that in the longer term, they are looking at possible changes to HandyDART vehicles, equipment or operating practices that could safely accommodate Cretain’s mobility device.
My husband thought I was having a stroke nope several years later MSA-C in Dec 2024 i couldn’t walk because of dizziness shake couldn’t drive or sign my name, I was on 5.5 levodopa to help with increased rigidity that was causing severe joint pain. I was also on Vit D, B12 but that didn’t help much and worsened my edema.. my neurologist took me off all meds as they weren’t working and suggested we try alternative treatments, so last August, our family doctor started me on the MSA-5 protocol—the best decision ever! 4 months into treatment and my symptoms improved. My muscle weakness has improved and i can now walk down the street and back, the Dizziness are gone, my sleep pattern has also returned to normal and i have become very active. checkout the www. limitlessnaturalwellness. com for the MSA-5 protocol, for me i would say this is a breakthrough for people with Multiple System Atrophy
U KNOW IT
July 29, 2026 at 9:28 pm
I SEND THIS GUY DOWN A STEEP HILL STRAPPED TO THAT BED , AND SAY ADIOS AMIGO !!!
Really Global? You let this comment through? Someone offering to murder a senior stricken by a disease he could not prevent?
And all the other shameful comments?
Jeff D
July 30, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Dude, you drew the short stick. Sorry.
Global, you are a truly disgusting news rag.
Dude, you drew the short stick. Sorry.
I am not sure what people are expecting here. In the last article it sounded like Handy Dart had been in violation of size and load limits. Meaning that all insurance coverage would be null and void if any accident occurred. You can’t have that. Sorry!
Sorry for this guys situation but we not are talking about a snap of the fingers here. This isn’t an electric wheel chair or even a push gurney we talking about. This is a mobile bed life support system that apparently weighs over 800 pounds.
There are not too many legal options here for transporting that with a person in it.
We need to be realistic here.
They would give him MAID within a day I bet
But he, let’s open more free injection sites/. And give away more to the streets
Good job cutting back on vital services without a suitable replacement for those who really need it.
I SEND THIS GUY DOWN A STEEP HILL STRAPPED TO THAT BED , AND SAY ADIOS AMIGO !!!