Island communities on the 250-kilometre stretch between Campbell River and Port Hardy could lose their daily bus service this month if the operator’s application to abandon the route is approved.
Tofino Bus Services Inc., a division of Wilson’s Group, is citing fewer than six passengers a day and a loss of more than $173,000 while operating daily and both ways on the route during 2019.
The licence from the provincial government’s Passenger Transportation Board requires Tofino Bus operate on the route every day with stops in Sayward, Woss Camp, Port McNeill, the Port Alice junction and Port Hardy.
The application to the board is taking public feedback until Wednesday. A decision is expected shortly after that.
“When reviewing the history, this route has regularly struggled to provide a profitable landscape for any operator of the route,” Tofino Bus general manager Travis Wilson said in a statement to the Passenger Transportation Board.
He said Greyhound Canada, which operated the entire network of Vancouver Island, reported extensive loses on the same corridor, which led to Greyhound ceasing operations on Vancouver Island and most of Western Canada in 2018.
Port Hardy town councillor and deputy mayor Patricia Corbett-Labatt said while she understands the challenges of the business model, people in her community still need the bus service “as one of the only life lines to get off the North Island.”
She said despite the small number of users, citizens are using it for medical appointments and hospital visits as well as a way to connect with family members on other parts of the Island.
“I [recently] got a call from a constituent who is very concerned about losing the bus.” said Corbett-Labatt. “She doesn’t drive outside of Port Hardy and uses the bus to visit family a few times a year.”
Corbett-Labatt said the town hopes the service can be maintained in some way to make it viable, either with a new operator using smaller buses or having a reduced schedule.
John Wilson, CEO of Wilson’s Transportation Group, indicated there might be interest from a smaller operator in Port Hardy, but did not provide details. He said any potential new operator could use the terminal in Campbell River for pick-ups and drop-offs.
Travis Wilson said the annual ridership between Port Hardy and Campbell River during 2019 was 4,068 passengers.
“As a private business that is not subsidized, it is not feasible to operate this route averaging only five passengers per day,” said Wilson, noting the length of the route and the operating costs “far outweigh the revenue prospects.”
He told the board revenue on the route during the 12 months of 2019 was $255,714, while expenses were $429,075. He stressed the loss does not factor in any amortization of vehicles or any management costs.
“We have considered a reduction in service, but after reviewing the current status we feel that the ridership will not change with reduced service and the company will still operate at the same deficit metric just on a reduced level,” said Wilson. “We simply cannot operate a business where one of the routes continuously operates at a loss.”
Angela Smith, co-ordinator at Mount Waddington Heath Network, said while Island Health offers some transportation services, such as helping cancer patients make trips for treatments, a steady link to points south is essential for the health and well-being of all North Island residents.
“When there are barriers, it can create an environment where people won’t even go to a [medical] appointment,” said Smith, adding transportation is most often needed by the most vulnerable.
Smith said Mount Waddington Health Network has submitted comments to the Passenger Transportation Board regarding the potential loss of service.
