The B.C. Government has announced $27 million in COVID-19 financial support for inter city bus companies and regional airports across the province.
Premier John Horgan says $10.7 million is meant for bus companies, while the other $16.5 million is for regional airports.
“Earlier in the pandemic, working with the Federal Government, we were able to find $1-billion for BC Transit, TransLink, and BC Ferries. Critically important pieces of transportation infrastructure, but not the whole game,” he said. “Were it not for our regional airports, were it not for the inter city bus services, massive parts of British Columbia would have been left without any hope.”
Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says the government hopes to have this money out the door by the end of the month.
“We will guide those companies and those airports which are typically municipally owned or non profit societies to walk them through the grant process,” Fleming said. “The scale of this grant is to sustain operations around British Columbia for the next year, so well into winter and spring of 2022.”
“The communities we [at EBus] serve receive vital access to essential education classes, health appointments and employment opportunities,” said Dan Finely, vice-president, Motorcoach at Pacific Western Group of Companies, in a statement. “Communities need these critical and safe transportation services as we deal with the pandemic and the far-reaching impact it is having on our society.”
Ebus operates several bus routes in and around Kamloops including to Vancouver and Kelowna.
BC Liberal Transportation Critic Michael Lee says its encouraging to see the supports announced to transportation operators in the province after months of ‘NDP inaction’.
“Services like Wilson’s Tofino Bus and Vancouver Island Connector, as well as airports around B.C., have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this support is essential to enabling them to continue serving our communities,” he said.
In January, Lee wrote to the Minister of Transportation calling on him to develop a plan to support the motor coach industry in the province as many companies reported a 95 per cent decline in revenue. He also says he called on the Minister to support airports that are especially vital to remote B.C. communities.
“While I am relieved that Minister Fleming has finally taken action to aid these businesses, I will be watching closely as these grant programs unfold as this government consistently struggles to get money into the hands of those who need it most,” added Lee.
“These transportation grants are a positive first step and we’re glad the government is finally listening, but the NDP must continue to step up its support for B.C. transportation networks so they can meet the needs of British Columbians both during this pandemic, and long into the future.”
