Based on a forty-one percent decline in ridership since 2010, Greyhound Canada announced Monday that they will discontinue routes in four provinces.
As of October 31st British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta will have their service discontinued.
Donna Barnett MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin says even though the Northern Bus Service is available to take people to medical appointments in Kelowna and Vancouver, it doesn’t run every day, and there are other people who rely on Greyhound’s services for other reasons.
“The only way you have to get there if you don’t drive is by Greyhound. If you wish to be a student to go back and forth from university to visit your folks, if you want to be a tourist, this totally hurts the tourism economy once again”.
Barnett said it’s also very worrying to see a company entirely ceasing operations in our Province and this government needs to create the economic condition for business to succeed not leave.
“We’re going to be working with the regional district, we’re going to be working with NCLGA, and also UBCM,” said 100 Mile House Mayor Mitch Campsall who is hopeful that someone will take over Greyhound’s route from Prince George to Vancouver.
“I sit on the board at UBCM and we’ll definitely be getting into a discussion. It’s not something that can wait, it’s something that needs to be moved on fairly quick.”