A school bus driver in the south Ottawa community of Greely will be permanently moved to a different bus route after allegedly bullying a four-year-old boy on the bus.

The bus company, Stock, made the decision Thursday, according to the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority.

The change comes after Ethan Cates came off his bus after a day of junior kindergarten Tuesday afternoon with a piece of masking tape attached to his baseball cap that said "Trouble Ethan."

Other children on the bus also had their names taped to their hats, but Ethan's was the only one labelled "trouble." (CBC)

His mother, Julie Cates, said the driver also told the other children on the bus to say goodbye to "Trouble Ethan."

"I was pretty upset to be honest. I don't want to put a label on my child," said Cates.

Other students on the same bus also had their names taped to their hats — but Ethan was the only one to get labelled "trouble."

"I have no idea why he would have labelled him trouble. We've heard of no incidences from the school. That's the protocol that the school bus driver is supposed to follow: If there's any incidents he's to inform the principal who then informs us," she said.

Bus driver apologizes

Cates complained to the transportation authority saying if her son was causing problems on the bus, the driver did not handle it the right way.

Vicki Kyriaco, the authority's general manager, asked the bus company to take the driver off the route until it completes an investigation. But she now says he will removed permanently.

The bus driver did apologize Thursday through the transportation authority.

Cates, who had originally said she wanted the driver fired, said she no longer wants that but she does not want him driving her son's route.

She also said the apology included a statement from the driver saying Ethan had never actually been "trouble" and he now knows it was a mistake.