Majority of Saskatchewan opposes government-run bus service: survey



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In the weeks following Greyhound's announcement to eliminate its bus routes from Western Canada, other provinces are stepping in to fill the void.

A New Angus Reid Institute Survey Suggests the Majority of Canadians We support the federal and provincial governments funding a bus service in rural or northern areas.


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The survey asked Canadians which of the two statements were closest to their point of view: "The government should intervene to maintain bus services in rural and northern areas, they are essential to communities" or "More than half, or 56% of respondents, voted in favor of government-subsidized bus services, while 44% believe the government should not maintain these services. it is up to private companies to provide the service.

Although support is broad for a subsidized federal or provincial service, the majority is opposed to moving to the Prairies. In Alberta, 59% said the government should not rely on maintaining rural bus service; In 1965, 56% of respondents in Saskatchewan believed the same thing

but according to the Angus Reid Institute, the opinion of the survey was not based on location in Canada nor on size. of the community in which the respondents lived.

What is remarkable is that it is the politics and the generational lines that really motivate the opinion on this issue, "said Shachi Kurl, executive director of the conference. Angus Reid Institute.

Kurl says those who voted for the NDP or the Liberal Party "Even though the Greyhound cuts affect Alberta and Saskatchewan, there are more conservative roots for voters in these two provinces in each province. from those provinces to say, "No, the government should not get involved," Kurl said.


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Greyhound bus decapitates in 2008 for a drop in ridership

Alberta is currently expanding a pilot project to provide bus service to residents of rural communities . Government says pilot project roads will help about 40,000 people

Meanwhile, in Saskatchewan, the government is showing no interest in subsidizing a rural bus service. According to him, the bus ridership of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) has decreased by 77% since 1980 and by 35% since 2012.

"The public operation of bus services remains impossible in Saskatchewan and would require mbadive subsidies of more than $ 80 million. over the next five years, "said a government statement to Global News," As such, the decision to liquidate TCC's business will not be reconsidered. "

Instead, the government designates Private firms working to provide service in Saskatchewan Although the government has stated that the work of private companies is encouraging, it does not provide any subsidy to private companies to operate in the province. [19659002Buteveryoneintheprovincedoesnotsupportprivatebusinesses"Saskatchewanisanexampleofhowtheprivatesectordoesnotwork-wehad10companiestakingoverfromSTC-therearestilltwocompaniesleft"hesaidCindyHansonmemberoftheSaveSTCgroup"Theprivatesectorisnotgoingtobethesolution"

According to the survey, although government services of rural bus to have benefited from significant support, only 5% of those surveyed were affected by the Greyhound cuts.

also found that more people in western Canada were more aware of the problem than in other parts of the country

© 2018 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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