| Author | Message | ||
| Fraser Field (Fraser8)
Registered Member Username: Fraser8 Post Number: 10 Registered: 4-2008 Posted From: 24.71.21.162 Rating: N/A |
This is a copy and paste from the news: Greyhound cuts service in Man., Ont., eyes B.C. Updated: Thu Sep. 03 2009 11:36:11 ctvbc.ca Greyhound Canada has served notice that it's ceasing operations in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, saying it's in a "dire" financial situation due to government regulations that force it to serve remote communities. The bus company is also re-examining its routes in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Greyhound is giving 30 days' notice to the Manitoba Highway Traffic Board to ensure that passenger tickets sold to date in that province can be honoured. In Ontario, Greyhound is giving 90 days' notice to the Ontario Highway Transport Board. Greyhound service in northwestern Ontario will stop as of Dec. 2. "The decision to cease our operations in Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba was a very difficult one. We have repeatedly asked the federal and provincial governments to change the existing legislative and regulatory regimes that govern inter-city bus operations," said Stuart Kendrick, Senior Vice President Greyhound Canada, in a news release. "Our financial situation is dire and we are no longer in a position to absorb losses that are almost solely attributable to government policies." Greyhound added, however, that it will continue to work with the federal and provincial governments over the next 30 to 90 days to try to work on a solution to maintain its service to rural passengers. Reacting to the news, Federal Transport Minister John Baird accused Greyhound of trying to bully the provinces -- and that the company is being "heavy handed" in an effort to wrestle subsidies from provincial governments. Greyhound, whose U.S. parent is based in Texas, is the largest provider of intercity bus transportation in Canada. The company says it serves nearly 700 communities and offers 1,000 daily departures across the country. It also operates in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 190 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.132  Rating: N/A |
This is interesting as the hound just opened a multi million dollar new terminal attached to Winnipeg internation airport. It sounds more like they are haveing a pissing match with the Provinces. Dave L | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 456 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.219  Rating: N/A |
Not that I was keeping count , but this is the third round of this in the last decade for Manitoba. Never did any follow-ups to see if concession were ever negotiated the last two rounds at this. I will not be holding my breath for "the great hound bus sell off" this time around. | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 458 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.237.52 Rating: N/A |
They really are playing this round up in the national news , perhaps it shall turn out to follow the automotive manufactures lead; dump the pension liability by creating bankruptcy (your captive audience will "shall return" when the game is finished. I do admit that the few experiences I have had with the hound the last few years have been , well "slightly disgusting" in a pure ( corporate game plan sense ) , so no real big surprise here. It is a real serious problem, unsolvable by say simply reducing the number of stops to small town nowhere-ville to once a day or three times a week. That would only solve the advertised problem & not the poorly hidden corporate agendas that the tax payer can never seem to focus on when being persuaded into dolling out corporate welfare. ... how long can taxation remain above 100 % is what I wish to know, for the love of buses ... | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1617 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.110.9  Rating: N/A |
Hmmm... sounds familiar to the railroads when they wanted to jettison passenger routes because of great losses on low ridership on many routes. Now Ammtrak is doing the same thing. | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 459 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.219 Rating: N/A |
...IF ONLY some of these CEO would show a little imagination with there scamming or follow the good example set by there most sensible of the machines (buses in this case) that support them, not just this cheat & gain ; perhaps then we could honourably reward them with corporate welfare for at least showing initiative; but then if they did that they likely would never need such assistance and we wouldn't even have something to bitch about for our tax bucks... ~perhaps I just don't understand something about competitive behavior & am just insanely obsessed with complementing behavior; at least I can find refuge amongst fellow busnuts, maybe even the odd moment of similar "mind-frame" | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1680 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.71.104.230  Rating: N/A |
More of the intrigue to this story... The Government of Ontario regional commuter company, GO Transit, as of this coming Tuesday morning, will be running the taxpayer subsidized bus and rail service over the top of Greyhound's regulated monoploy line Toronto-Peterborough, and will be running over the top of the Toronto-Niagara Falls line, where there are two competing private companies, Greyhound and Coach Canada. In a regulated industry, in theory, you get given the rights to some paying lines, and in exchange, you are required to provide some service on lines that do not pay very well. It's about access to the rest of the world in remote parts of the province. What is Greyhound to do, if the government that issues these rights, starts competing with them on the most profitable lines, which they use to subsidize the northern lines? Ticket prices are basically half what the private industry companies are charging. Phooey. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 460 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.237.52 Rating: N/A |
seeing how U asked what Greyhound or any sentient corporation could do: "tell the whole truth to the the public" - let them decide if they wish to pay for things out of there own pocket once or pay the government a lot more & have the bureaucrats delve a small portion of that cash, in the form of subsidiaries (often to there fellow syndicates members), making the decision of corporate life or death for the sheep/customers, depending on which decisions are in the best interests of the decision makers (not the public) . >of course if you take the spirit of the charter of rights & freedoms "at word", the section on freedom of mobility does suggest a certain level of obligation as far as public transit goes. Not that we actual bother to follow our constitution unless it is convenient; much like all other citizens from all the countries on this planet dominated by talking monkeys. It's all in the belief , perhaps ? + personally , I spend the extra fuel & brakes to pick up hikers often, even when out in the bus. We have very little public transportation in the south okanagan, only the hounds & I did make the mistake of reading the charter of rights & freedoms, so I am obligated. IF ONLY I could believe these poor hikers were evil & dangerous (like the suit & ties folks) then I could just pass them on by & ignore there needs & my obligations, IF ONLY I could develop a convenient belief in fear I might get to my destinations sooner & be first in line more often! |