Yukon should help save northern bus service, says former Greyhound driver

A retired Greyhound driver believes the bus system in northern B.C.and Yukon is an essential service to people living in northern communities, and he wants the Yukon Government to help keep it going.

Jim Adams recently took a Greyhound from Vancouver to Whitehorse in order to express his concerns to the Yukon Government about the future ofnorthern bus routes.

Greyhound announced in August that it wasapplying to the B.C Passenger Transportation Boardto end all service north of Prince George, B.C., shutting down the busses that connect Dawson Creek, B.C.to Whitehorse.

"Greyhound service, in a way, is a lifeline," said Adams.

• Greyhound Canada applies to stop serving northern B.C., Yukon

• ANALYSIS | Goodbye Greyhound? The thread stitching together Canada's North wears thin

A former school teacher, Adams drove Greyhound buses on Christmas and summer holidays for 30 years. He mostly drove routes in southern B.C., and up to Prince George, B.C.,but has also driven to Yukon.

Adams said he spoke to an executive assistant to Highways and Public Works Minister Richard Mostyn on Tuesday about his concerns.

Adams would like to see the territorial government subsidizeGreyhound's service to Yukon and northern B.C., or see the government implement itsown bus service to replace Greyhound.

"I like the people along the road, and I don't want to see them left behind," said Adams. He believes northerncommunities have a right to public transportation.

Not considering subsidy, Yukon gov't says

A representative from the Yukon government, however,said the governmentdoes not consider Greyhound anessential service, and isnotcurrently considering a subsidy for the company. The government is also not considering implementing itsown bus system to replace Greyhound.

Adams said he is also hoping to speak with transportation officials in Victoria and Vancouver about the issue.

PeterHamel, the Greyhound Regional Vice President for Western Canada, said the northern routes arebeing cancelled becauseof low ridership,particularly along theYukon corridor. Thecompanyhad reduced services to three days inand three days outofWhitehorse, hoping to increase the numbers of riders, but Hamel saysthey are still seeing a steady decline.

Hamel saidthe companyhasbeen in talks for years with various levels of government about creating a transportation subsidy, but that has been unsuccessful.

Another highway of tears?

One of Adams's major concerns is seeing the Alaska Highway through B.C.andYukonbecome another Highway of Tears,because no one is servicing the communities along that road.

"There are parallels between the Highway of Tears and [Yukon], and all you have to do is go into a Greyhound station and take a look at the missing people," said Adams.

Hamel said they expected a decision from the B.C PassengerTransportationBoardby the end of January, on whether the routes would close.

"It's going to be business as usual until the decision's made," said Hamel.

If the board does terminateall northern routes in B.C.and Yukon, customers can expect service to cease within two months of the announcement, according to Hamel.

However, Greyhound is looking at partnering with a third party company in order to continue freight delivery to the north.

"We are certainly in a position to be able to maintain the courier product, seemingly without interruption," said Hamel.

Greyhound won'tsay who it mightpartner with to continue the freight service.

• 'It's Highway of Tears, man': Northern B.C. faces life without Greyhound
• 5,000 people have used Highway of Tears buses in first year of service