Elected officials plan to come together this year to try to reinstate bus service between Vancouver, Sunshine Coast and Powell River.
Malaspina Coach Lines offered daily service between the three areas, but the service was cancelled indefinitely by the company last September.
Frank Mauro, Pender Harbour director for Sunshine Coast Regional District, said he plans to continue talks with Patrick Brabazon, Powell River Regional District board chair, on getting a bus back up and running for area residents.
“We’re still planning to do some sort of presentation to the province regarding Malaspina and seeing what we can do about some service, but really, that’s the limit of it right now,” said Mauro. “It’s something that I’ll be putting a focus on and that will be early in the new year.”
Mauro and his counterparts in Powell River have been receiving calls since the service ended from constituents concerned about fewer transportation options, particularly for the upcoming summer tourism season.
Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons said he’s also heard of many hardships from constituents due to the loss of Malaspina’s service, which was the only bus service north of Halfmoon Bay.
He said several Powell River residents have told him about their troubles trying to get to medical appointments in Vancouver. Some have had to be flown to Vancouver.
“Not all people can afford to travel by plane and their only option is to hitchhike or to catch a lift with somebody. If they don’t live here and they don’t know people and they’re just coming to visit a relative, it’s impossible,” said Simons. “Our economy is ultimately impacted.”
Simons said he wasn’t entirely sure why Malaspina cancelled its service last September, but noted he was told it had something to do with BC Ferries’ sailing times.
“According to the operators of Malaspina, the ferry didn’t wait for the bus, even if the bus was just a little bit late. The policy was not to assure loading, and that plus the changes to the schedules really made things complicated, in the summer especially,” he said.
While no reason for the cancellation of service was ever given by Malaspina, the company filed a lawsuit against vehicle provider Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada Corporation on October 30, 2015.
The lawsuit suggests Malaspina was “left for a period of approximately three years in the position of either not being able to service their passengers or in a position of driving buses that are neither fit nor suitable for passengers and goods transportation.”
Mercedes-Benz has yet to file a response to the notice of civil claim.
