Rural transit and Penticton Airport

AI summary

Petitioners ask the Govt of Canada to consult BC and municipalities to establish rural transit for Similkameen, South Okanagan and West Kootenays and open Penticton Airport to private operators. The government responds that the Rural Transit Solutions Fund supports local transit, provinces oversee intercity service, and Penticton Airport is available to licensed operators.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Government of Canada WHEREAS: The Government of Canada's Rural Transit Solutions Fund has invested in bus transit feasibility studies and vehicle purchases in rural Ontario and Alberta. The Similkameen and South Okanagan have been poorly served by the loss of Greyhound buses in 2018 in providing transit service for residents who cannot rely solely on personal vehicles to travel throughout British Columbia. Transport Canada are the owners and operators of Penticton Airport, with airports often being utilized as hubs for bus services. THEREFORE: We, the undersigned citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to immediately launch consultations with municipalities and the province of British Columbia about establishing rural transit options to service residents and communities in the Similkameen, South Okanagan and West Kootenays and to declare that Penticton Airport is available to any private busing operators who would wish to utilize it as a passenger hub.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada Signed by Jennifer McKelvie, M.P. The Government of Canada thanks the petitioners for sharing their concerns regarding the importance of accessible and reliable transportation options for rural and regional communities, including those in the Similkameen, South Okanagan, and West Kootenay regions. Part of the targeted streams under the Canada Public Transit Fund, the Rural Transit Solutions Fund is designed to support transit initiatives that improve mobility within rural, remote, Indigenous and Northern communities and regions, focusing on supporting localized transit solutions and community-based service models that enable residents to travel within their own community while also allowing connections to urban areas for employment, education, shopping, and other necessities. The Rural Transit Solutions Fund supports a range of public transit models including fixed-route transit, flex-route transit, demand-response transit, community shuttles and Mobility-as-a-Service. In addition to supporting rolling stocks, the Rural Transit Solutions Fund funds fixed infrastructure that improves access to public transit. The Rural Transit Solutions Fund has broad program objectives that recognize diverse mobility needs of rural and remote regions. However, the Fund is not designed to support transit between major cities or across regions or provinces. Intercity transportation is primarily addressed by provinces and territories. The Rural Transit Solutions Fund consists of two funding streams: the Planning and Design Projects stream which supports the planning and design activities of a transit system and the Capital Projects stream which supports the purchasing of public transit assets such as vehicles and supporting infrastructure. Intakes for both of these streams are expected in the future. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada would welcome applications from the municipalities and local governments, Indigenous governing bodies, not for profit organizations or the provincial government serving the Similkameen and South Okanagan to apply for funding through either of these streams to improve transit options for residents of their communities. Response by the Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Signed by Mike Kelloway The Government of Canada recognizes the important role that intercity bus services play in supporting the daily lives of many Canadians, including students, seniors, and those living in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. In general, provinces and territories are primarily responsible for bus transportation within their province. In 1954, Parliament passed the Motor Vehicle Transport Act which delegated the authority to license interprovincial and international bus services to provincial governments. Since then, provinces have played a lead role in developing solutions tailored to regional needs. In 2018, following Greyhound’s discontinuation of services in western Canada, including British Columbia, the Government convened provinces and territories to identify potential opportunities to support the sector. As part of this collaboration, the Government offered to cost-share transitional funding to fill service gaps in the bus network. The Government of British Columbia accepted this offer and funding was used to establish services for rural, remote and Indigenous communities in northern British Columbia. In 2021, following Greyhound’s elimination of its remaining domestic services, the Government again encouraged collaboration with provinces and territories on measures to strengthen Canada’s bus network. Transport Canada remains open to collaborating with provincial and territorial counterparts on solutions to strengthen bus services and their connectivity to other modes of transportation, including air and public transit services. Regarding passenger hubs, Penticton Airport is a Transport Canada-owned and operated facility located in Penticton, British Columbia, serving as an important regional transportation hub for the South Okanagan. The airport supports scheduled commercial air services, general aviation and connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors in surrounding rural and remote communities. The Penticton Airport is also currently available for private bus operators to operate services provided they secure a license to operate at the airport and meet the associated conditions. Proposed initiatives would be evaluated in accordance with applicable aviation safety and security regulations, operational considerations and federal policies. Arrangements would also be subject to the establishment of appropriate commercial agreements that clearly define roles, responsibilities and terms of use, ensuring that any ground transportation activity is integrated safely and efficiently with existing airport operations.