B.C. municipal delegates oppose Greyhound’s bid to trim back bus services
Greyhound Canada is being asked to “put people ahead of parcels” and stop its plans to cancel intercity bus routes in northern B.C. and on Vancouver Island.
Delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference on Friday voted in favour of a resolution, which was sponsored by the City of Prince George, urging the Passenger Transportation Board to decline Greyhound’s application to cancel five routes — including one that covers the Highway of Tears, where dozens of women have disappeared or been murdered over the years.
“I think this is really important,” said Prince George Coun. Brian Skakun, who presented the resolution at the conference.
“Greyhound bus service for many is the only mode of transportation, and if that service is lost many people are going to feel isolated, vulnerable and in the end are going to end up hitchhiking.”
Greyhound has applied to the Passenger Transportation Board to cancel a total of nine routes in B.C., but the resolution dealt specifically with four northern routes and one on Vancouver Island.
It has also applied to reduce minimum route frequency or eliminate route points on 10 B.C. routes.
Greyhound has said the reasons behind the application are plunging ridership, increased competition and higher operating costs.
Skakun said it’s his understanding that Greyhound will cancel bus service, but continue to carry freight along the routes it wishes to cancel, a move he called “really unfair.”
In an emailed statement, Peter Hamel, regional vice-president, Western Canada, for Greyhound Canada, said at this time the proposed changes stand.
“We are sensitive to the concerns expressed by the Union of B.C. Municipalities and we met with northern B.C. mayors at their request to provide details on the rationale for these proposed changes prior to the conference of municipalities in September,” he said.
“Discussions with all levels of government — municipal, provincial and federal — are ongoing to try to find a solution to transportation challenges in B.C. and the issue of rural connectivity.”
The board is accepting written comments about the application until Oct. 13.
In addition to asking the Passenger Transportation Board to decline Greyhound’s application, the resolution asked the provincial government to review and strengthen transportation infrastructure and networks across B.C., “enabling British Columbians to support community resilience, diversity and competitiveness; spark and sustain economic growth; and seize opportunities.”
Two other resolutions garnered interest from delegates.
Quesnel proposed asking the
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provincial government to consult with the public about co-ordinating B.C.’s Family Day holiday, which falls on the second Monday in February, with other provinces, which celebrate Family Day and other holidays on the third Monday in February. The resolution passed.
Grand Forks asked the UBCM
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to petition the provincial government to consult with the public about abolishing daylight saving time. The resolution, which passed, said moving the clock ahead each spring can negatively affect people’s health and cognitive awareness, and there have been petitions and calls for daylight saving time to be scrapped.