By Kate Bouey

Greyhound to Cut Routes, Local Reaction

Jul 9, 2018 | 1:11 PM

Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster has blasted some provincial NDP government policies in light of Greyhound’s announcement that it will end almost all of its passenger bus and freight services in Western Canada, including in Vernon.

Foster says the employer’s health tax and another expected increase in B-C’s carbon tax are all things that affect an outfit like Greyhound.

“Ridership being down is a sign of the times but additional costs have been added so people, especially in the transportation business, trying to do business in this province over the last year, we’re starting to see the effects,” said Foster in an interview with Beach Radio News.

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Foster pointed to “things like the payroll tax, what the NDP are calling the employer’s health tax. These are all things that affect an outfit like Greyhound.”

Foster said an expected government hike in the carbon tax, especially with the price of gas and diesel so high already, was also an added burden on business.

Greyhound says it will cease operations in Western Canada, except a Vancouver to Seattle route, on October 31st putting hundreds of people out of work

ORIGINAL STORY:

Greyhound is ending almost all passenger bus and freight services in Western Canada, including at its depot in Vernon and throughout the Okanagan.

The changes will take effect in October.

Falkland rep Rene Talbot of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District board of directors says the bus cancellations will be a big blow to many people.

“It’s a big concern to rural areas especially for people who don’t drive, so how are they going to get around?” wonders Talbot.

All services in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba will be scrapped except for one route — Vancouver to Seattle.

“You would hope somebody would step up because there are a lot of people who don’t have a driver’s license, and seniors who don’t drive anymore, and they depend on that bus service,” adds Talbot.

Greyhound says the business is no longer sustainable.

The company says 415 people will be out of work as a result of the cuts.

by Kate Bouey