Most Canadians want government to step up when Greyhound leaves, poll suggests

As Greyhound prepares to end service across Western Canada, a national survey suggests most Canadians are willing to supporta government-funded rural bus service.

A slim majority ofCanadians, 56 per cent, agreed the service is vital and wouldsupport a federally-funded or provincially-fundedservice,an Angus Reid pollreleased Fridaysuggests.

However, 44 per cent said they believe private business will eventually fill the void ifdemand exists and governments should stay out of it.

When asked outrightif they would support a rural bus service funded by the federal government, whetherdirectly or through subsidies to Greyhound or other bus operators, 60per cent said yes, while only 26per cent said no.

Even more respondents supported aservice funded by the provinces, 64 per cent, with23 per cent against.

Even in Alberta where support for government interventionwas lowest among all provinces, 53 per cent supported a provincially-funded service while49 per cent favoredfederal funding.

• Greyhound lobbied Ottawa to backstop rural routes for years to no avail, says executive
• Greyhound Canada to end bus service in Western provinces

Though 54 per cent ofCanadian adults say they have takena Greyhound bus in their lives, only five per cent of respondents saidthey wouldbe personally affected byabsence of the service.

Greyhound announced in early July that it would be cutting all bus services across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and all but one route in British Columbia.

The company blamed a variety of reasons for the cuts, including a 41-per-cent decline in ridership since 2010, competition from subsidized passenger transportation services, growth of low-cost airlines, regulatory constraints and an increase incar ownership.

The company estimatedthat twomillion customers will be affected when the changes take effect at the end of October.

Western premiers have called on thefederal government to step in anddelayGreyhound's service reductions.

• Premier calls Greyhound service cuts 'disturbing' news for rural Albertans

The Angus Reid Institute conducted the survey online from July 18 to 23 in a randomsample of 1,500 Canadian adult members of the Angus Reid Forum.

For comparison purposes only, a random sample of this size would have a margin of error of +/- 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

The study was commissioned and paid for by Angus Reid.