NDP Leader Andrea Horwath today demanded action from the McGuinty government to prevent further bus service cuts in Northwestern Ontario.

Earlier this month, Greyhound Canada announced it was looking at shutting down bus service, both in Northwestern Ontario and in Manitoba.

“Tens of thousands of people living in small towns, villages and First Nations communities across Northwestern Ontario rely on Greyhound bus routes for basic transportation and to get to medical appointments in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste Marie and Winnipeg,” said Horwath.

She noted, in questioning of Transportation Minister Jim Bradley, that the Manitoba government has taken steps to keep buses running in that province, but that the McGuinty government still has not.

“Greyhound has been cutting routes and frequency in Northwestern Ontario over the past six years and the McGuinty government has been missing in action. People from Wawa to Rainy River, Hearst to Kenora and elsewhere have seen their bus services either discontinued or diminished with no alternative air or rail services,” said Horwath.

“Now with Greyhound threatening more cuts, all this Minister can say is that he hopes another carrier will step in to provide service. That’s not good enough. When will the McGuinty government finally do something to sustain quality bus service across Northwestern Ontario?” she asked.