PRINCE GEORGE — The BC Bus North service will continue to operate as normal, as the federal and provincial government have granted support.
An extension until March 31, 2022 has been provided to the company by Western Economic Diversification Canada and the Province.
In total, over $1.6 million in one-time funding for operating costs of BC Bus North will be given.
“Funding for BC Bus North will come from the provincial government and Western Economic Diversification Canada will provide 50% of the cost,” says the Minister of transportation and Infrastructure, Rob Fleming
Fleming adds that the service is crucial.
“When Greyhound decided to pull out of Northern BC in 2018, it put many people in a difficult position, we know in northern BC we have unique transportation needs, unlike any other part of the province due to the remote geography.”
Fleming adds that the BC Bus North was created to help citizens who relied on the Greyhound service.
“People in the North can continue to rely on affordable, dependable public transportation to access employment, education and support family members”
But since then it has evolved to much more, as the MLA for North Coast, Jennifer Rice says, the service has become crucial for the well-being of individuals in northern B.C.
“For many years indigenous and non indigenous communities have asked for improved transportation options along Highway 16 . . . and commissioner Wally Oppal recommended in 2012 that urgent action be taken to improve transportation options along Highway 16, from his murdered and missing indigenous women’s report. For decades, women have gone missing along this highway, many of them aboriginal women.”
Rice adds she’s grateful to the government for providing safe access to transportation, but she says improvement to public transportation options are continuing to be made.
“We made improvements to the Northern Health connections bus, expanding its ridership, expanding the criteria for utilizing the bus, and including affordable transportation options for seniors . . . we’ve also put in place community busing grants, and the BC transit inter-community bus-service.”
The BC Bus North provides service to Prince George, Prince Rupert, Valemount, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, and Fort Nelson. Fares go between $11 to $65, depending on the distance.
