In the case of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company - STC - it was never designed as a profit making venture but has always been a public service like health care and education.  I'm glad your paper has covered this, but there's a lot more to the picture in Saskatchewan than what you've discussed here.  During its last year of operation for both passenger and freight services to well over 600 communities in the province, the subsidy amounted to 10 bucks per citizen, according to the STC CEO.  Closing STC was ideologically motivated and done without any financial accountability as to the costs associated with this move.  This blog contains stories of the many hardships now facing Saskatchewan citizens without this essential public service:
stcstories.wordpress.com