Having lived in Northern…

Having lived in Northern Ontario for approximately 30 years I have seen how bus and train services have been negatively impacted by government decisions and the impact this has had on communities. I would question the removal of market entry controls as many communities in northern and rural Ontario will never be economically viable and therefore need government controls and support.

The expansion of providers of these types of services due to the limited economic growth and population one must have skepticism that they will survive. It would seem that for a provider of these types of services to survive financially you need to control competition. I see the introduction of smaller vehicles as a possible solution to making the bus service economical for smaller communities and making the business viable. The reduction in size could also improve the service by increasing its frequency which is very poor today and drives potential users away.

The local EMS service would certainly benefit with an increase in service levels and this would result in significant cost savings. In many remote communities buses are vital for the transportation of medical, commercial and regular residential parcels.

In terms of social or health organizations being involved in the service they could help increasing the usage if the service levels increase and service costs are controlled. The increase in usage should help reduce the overall cost for the current service which again would likely increase its usage.

Public transportation such as buses and trains need to be supported and expanded thus reducing the number of vehicles on the highways which would then reduce greenhouse gases. Unfortunately any type of service in the north or rural Ontario will likely require some form of subsidization due to the distance between communities and the lack of population. However, communities in these areas are crucial for the economic well being of the Province and therefore any change needs to be done looking into the future and not just based on economics.

[Original Comment ID: 194112]