Bus transportation has been a key topic of discussion throughout northwest B.C. communities for over a decade. Since the cancellation of Greyhound in Canada, community representatives have voiced their concerns about transportation services for rural areas.

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach presented a petition in the House of Commons on Monday, calling on the government to take action.

“This petition was brought forward by a group of petitioners, most of them from British Columbia, who are drawing attention to the need for federal leadership. We need the Federal Minister of Transport to step up and provide a nationwide solution so Canadians from coast-to-coast are connected once again with affordable, safe bus transportation.”

The petition highlights the importance of passenger safety and mobility. During his presentation in Ottawa, Bachrach spoke about connectivity, reducing climate pollution and supporting the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice.

“People in the northwest are very familiar with the tragic history of the Highway of Tears. We need to make sure that our community members, particularly those who are more vulnerable, are able to travel up and down our highway corridor between communities in a way that’s safe,” said Bachrach.

Following a virtual town hall meeting held by Bachrach last month, residents in groups from the northwest and beyond came together to discuss the impact of Greyhound’s cancellation and the importance of having reliable and safe transport options.

“Working with groups like the Northern Development Initiative Trust, Let’s Ride BC and the local government shows me that there are a lot of interested parties. We’ve made some progress together over the past number of years with BC Bus North and Highway 16 shuttle buses. The reality is on those longer haul routes, there’s still a big gap so that's what we're working on now.”

The presentation in the House of Commons is available here: