Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Greyhound to continue bus service in province

By: Bill Redekop

Posted: 10/29/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

( )

The Manitoba government hopes to leave the driving to Greyhound after offering a package of route reductions and financial aid to keep the bus service in the province.

The two sides met Tuesday and Greyhound liked enough of what Transport Minister Ron Lemieux said to cancel its Monday deadline for pulling out of Manitoba. The company will continue running buses for the foreseeable future.

"We've agreed to work together to find a mutually satisfactory solution," Lemieux said. That will include Greyhound opening its books to show just where buses are losing money, and how much. The company says it loses more than $4 million per year in Manitoba on passenger service.

"Both the government and company agree that some combination of direct investment and reduction of service will be required," Greyhound said in a press release.

British Columbia recently struck a deal with Greyhound in which more than $4 million in losses were wiped out through route reduction and no subsidies.

"We're looking at a combination," Lemieux said.

"We can't cover the full $4 million without the federal government picking up 50 per cent of it, for example," Lemieux said. He wouldn't say how much the province is prepared to pick up, or whether it will be an annual subsidy.

Ottawa has said no to any financial assistance.

"The federal government is saying they don't want to participate in this. It's regrettable. It's a national service," Lemieux said. "A lot of federal agencies use and depend on bus service," including Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

The Manitoba government will also continue to negotiate with other possible carriers in case they can provide a better plan to serve Manitoba. The province has had preliminary talks with Boutin Bus Lines and Caribou Coach of Northwestern Ontario.

"We're prepared to look at other reasonable offers, too. There are other companies out there. We've told Greyhound we're going to be doing that," Lemieux said.

"But today, who has the capacity and the ability to haul people in this province? That's Greyhound. Greyhound has the kiosks, they have the labour force, they have the buses."

No deadline has been set to reach an agreement.

Lemieux said Manitobans need a bus service. "As a province, we have to seriously look at the health-care routes. There's northern patient transportation that needs to take place," Lemieux said. "So we have to do our homework as well to determine where those services are necessary."

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 29, 2009 A5

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)

Your reaction?

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.