Loss of bus service hurts Western Canada

The end of Greyhound bus service in Western Canada will tear away connections that Canadians have relied on for generations. Greyhound Canada announced this week that it is ending almost all service in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as of Oct. 31.

The bus has long been something we have taken for granted. It was the most affordable way to travel between communities in Canada. Where planes and trains were unavailable or unaffordable, the bus was always an option for getting around the country and connecting to the U.S.

The company says ridership has fallen 41 per cent since 2010. That’s a number that would devastate any private business, so it’s easy to understand why Greyhound made the decision to stop running the buses.

Still, for those who do ride, there are few alternatives. For rural residents and those who can’t drive or can’t afford it, getting to larger centres for medical appointments or any other purpose is going to be a challenge.

We have seen the dangers of choosing hitchhiking as an option. The deaths and disappearances of Indigenous women along the highway between Prince George and Prince Rupert prompted the creation of B.C. Bus North through B.C. Transit.

There is a glimmer of hope that another operator could take over. When Greyhound pulled out of the Island, Tofino Bus the Island Bus Company stepped in. Wilson’s Transportation of Victoria is considering filling the gap in the rest of the province.

Transportation Minister Claire Trevena is talking to her counterparts and to bus companies, as there are calls for government to provide or underwrite bus service. The province should step carefully before going down that expensive path, but its priority should be to push for some kind of solution.