The deadline for anyone wanting to submit comments regarding Greyhound Canada's request to cut its services in the Sea to Sky region and throughout British Columbia has been extended one week.
The original deadline of Wednesday, Oct. 17, was extended to Wednesday, Oct. 24.
Greyhound Canada wants massive cuts to 15 routes in British Columbia, including its route between Vancouver and Mount Currie, which takes in Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton. It also wants to eliminate one route on Vancouver Island.
Greyhound Canada said in its submission to the B.C. Passenger Board that it lost $14.1 million from scheduled passenger operations in B.C in the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
At the Pemberton Council meeting on Oct. 16, council passed a motion to draft a response in support of a Squamish-Lillooet Regional District's resolution that was adopted at a special SLRD Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 10:
"All municipalities, affected First Nations and Chambers of Commerce in the SLRD, along with residents and businesses negatively impacted by the proposed service reductions (by Greyhound Canada), are encouraged to provide written submissions to the Passenger Transportation Board supporting the SLRD resolution."
Pemberton Council also directed staff to prepare a resolution from the Village of Pemberton to submit before the deadline. It will state its objections to Greyhound's proposed reductions in the Sea to Sky Corridor, due to the lack of consultation with local governments regarding the impacts on communities. "We have found that there is very little, if any, response (from Greyhound)," said Pemberton Mayor Jordan Sturdy.
Whistler Council directed staff this week to prepare a submission to the Passenger Transportation Board recommending it not approve the service reductions proposed by Greyhound.
Whistler's reasons are three-fold: lack of reasonable consultation with the public and local governments, insufficient time for local governments to consult with their constituents and gauge their views, and the RMOW believes regional transportation changes of this intensity should be reviewed with a more open public process, preferably a public hearing.
Submissions can be sent to the B.C. Passenger Transportation Board by email at [email protected]. Identify the Vancouver to Mount Currie route by quoting application #305-12/Route S1.
