BONNYVILLE – City of Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland sent a letter to the Town of Bonnyville, inviting council to participate in a discussion around the challenges of rural busing.
Renee Stoyles, acting CAO for the Town of Bonnyville, presented the letter to council during the May 13 council meeting.
“[Mayor Copeland is] inviting council to meet to hear about the challenges faced by the rural bus industry and the support they need . . . Mayor Copeland is asking for feedback from communities in the region on the need and support for the establishment of a working group,” said Stoyles.
In his letter, Copeland said the meeting would be held to “determine if there is an appetite for communities in our region to form a working group and jointly request that the Government of Alberta consider a program to support rural bus lines that serve our communities.”
Copeland explained that the Cold Shot bus company has reached out to the municipalities it serves, expressing the challenges they are facing maintaining their rural routes, and asking for support.
“Neither municipalities nor the provincial government would be able to replace the existing private bus network in northeast Alberta in a timely and efficient manner. Support for private industry willing to serve rural communities would provide the largest service possible at the smallest cost to the taxpayer, all while still allowing municipalities and Indigenous communities to expand their public bus systems as demand and resources allow,” said Copeland.
The Cold Lake mayor wrote that the Government of Alberta has spent billions to support public transportation in urban centres, which he supports, though feels a small fraction of this investment could help the private sector maintain its rural service, that would otherwise have no other option.
Town of Bonnyville Coun. Byron Johnson expressed his support for being part of the discussion.
“Not having rural bus routes right now does hurt our area quite a bit. Some people are stranded because they can’t get into the city, although I know it’s tough right now because it’s not a very widely used transportation anymore, but it doesn't hurt to have that conversation to see if it's something that maybe has a solution,” said Johnson.
Town of Bonnyville Mayor Elisa Brosseau commented that she had heard City of Cold Lake Coun. Bill Parker speak on the subject during a [Northeast Alberta Alliance for Growth and Opportunities (NAAGO)] meeting held on May 9, and that the topic got a lot of support from the Northeastern municipalities in the region.
“I do agree – something that we talk about often is patients going to get services in a different municipality. Once they get discharged, they’re left in that municipality . . . so this would be a good way to help that sector of the population,” said Brosseau.
Brosseau agreed to attend the meeting and represent council. No motion was necessary for the decision, and no date for the meeting has been set, yet.
