Greyhound cuts to have a major impact on passengers B.C.



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The news that Greyhound Canada is planning to cut all its roads west of Sudbury, Ontario, is leaving B.C. Pbadengers are in shock and wonder how they will move in the province.

Buses stop in 61 locations in British Columbia, reaching remote locations without airports or other means of transportation, but the company announced Monday, all it will do in the province is will end on October 31st.

The only exception is the Vancouver-Seattle route operated by the US counterpart of Greyhound Canada.

"It's quite shocking, because it's a service that many people – many Canadians – rely on in remote communities," said Jessica Westman, a pbadenger who was preparing to take the bus from Kelowna to Nelson on Monday. "It will definitely be a lot harder."

Bryan Madsen was also leaving the Kelowna Terminal and saying that he could not get to Trail at another destination.

This is the only way for them to move, "said Mr. Madsen. "We use a bit in the Kootenays because we do not have a train and there are no planes, they do not land there very much."

Juan Serrano was traveling on a bus Monday from Vancouver to Kamloops. "

" It's really a shame, it's the only service we have as students there, we still can not afford a car, "Serrano said, adding that he would have to turn to carpooling apps in the future.

For Nicholas Secreto traveling from Vancouver to Kamloops by bus several times a year. The news was a big surprise.

"This amounts to hitchhiking, they will have to cancel the laws that prevent us from hitchhiking in town because there is no no other way to get there, "says Secreto.

Job Losses

Peter Hamel, Greyhound's Regional Vice President for Western Canada, said his staff was also in a state of shock after learning of the company's decision

. Hamel said, adding that 415 workers, including drivers, mechanics, terminal personnel and management in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, would lose their jobs.

Greyhound Canada will lay off approximately 415 workers including drivers, mechanics, terminal personnel and management. (CBC)

He said that the company had deficits in the western provinces since 2004 and that there were no profitable roads in the Western Canada.

"It is the argument that we have advanced [to the government]. This is the message we are trying to communicate this year and for five years, namely that no private sector company can be viable in these markets, in these regions, without any form of business. help.

But BC Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said in a written statement that the company had not communicated with her staff about the decision to terminate all her roads in the province.

"Greyhound has decided to completely eliminate the service in Western Canada. October 31, 2018 is extremely problematic for people who depend on Greyhound in the Interior, Sea-to-Sky, and to get to and from Alberta, "said Trevena

. circulate, and this will likely impact the most vulnerable "She says that

Hamel said that pbadengers can expect things to go on as usual until the end of the day. closing of operations at the end of October.


Anita Bathe and Dominika Lirette

Follow Rafferty Baker on Twitter: @raffertybaker

For more information: CBC British Columbia

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