VICTORIA, BC: Twenty inter-city bus operators and 55 regional airports are approved to receive funding to help them stay open and provide essential transportation services to British Columbians.

“Our government is working to keep vital services operating during this unprecedented time, and this funding will help British Columbians – especially those in rural areas of the province – have a safe and reliable way to travel to essential appointments,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “We know inter-city bus companies and regional airports were in critical need of funding to keep their operations going during COVID-19. With this investment, inter-city buses and regional airports will now have the funding they need to continue operating and serving people.”

The Province has issued a one-time investment of $6.2 million to a number of inter-city bus operators and $16.5 million for regional airports to support operations between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022. The bus operators and airports will use the funds to pay for operating costs, like maintenance expenses for buses, air terminals and runways. The funds will also go toward payroll, rent and other overhead costs to keep these services operating.

“Universal Coach, operators of the Skylynx Shuttle, are deeply grateful to the Province for supporting the transportation needs of the Sea-to-Sky First Nations and communities,” said Lindsay Moir, vice-president, Universal Coach Line Ltd. “Our drivers and staff, with years of specialized experience, can breathe easier knowing their jobs will continue. Locals looking for car-free transportation for employment, and medical and personal appointments, can depend on Skylynx to be there thanks to this government’s initiative.”

The funding will help operators recover from this challenging time and build back even stronger. 

“We want to congratulate the Province for showing national leadership in supporting and recognizing the importance of B.C. airports to the global economy,” said Sam Samaddar, airport director, Kelowna International Airport. “This funding will provide a lifeline to YLW to maintain critical airport services that support cargo operations and medevac services while we wait for commercial air service to recover.”

This funding builds on additional financial support provided by the Province to the transportation sector. This includes allowing taxi operators to defer licence renewals if they are not operating, rather than losing their licences and having to reapply, as well as ensuring taxi companies can access and benefit from the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program.

In addition, over $1 billion in joint funding with the federal government will allow TransLink, BC Transit and BC Ferries to maintain essential transportation service levels throughout the province and help make sure fares remain affordable as part of BC’s Restart Plan.

Funding for regional airports
The Province has provided a one-time investment of $16.5 million to 55 regional airports that host medevac services throughout B.C.

Each airport operator submitted a letter of interest confirming its role in hosting medevac services, identifying its pre and post COVID-19 revenues, and its revenue and expenditure projections for 2021.

Based on a combination of their revenue losses and the budgeted expenditures, airports received funding from one of four categories:

Category A – airports receiving $720,000
Category B – airports receiving $360,000
Category C – airports receiving $180,000
Category D – airports receiving operational grant funding of up to $90,000
The following airports have been approved to receive funding that will help maintain air terminals, runways and other operations for the essential movement of goods and people:

Northern B.C.

Atlin Airport: $33, 000
Burns Lake Airport: $180,000
Chetwynd Airport: $90,000
Dawson Creek Regional Airport: $360,000
Dease Lake Airport: $90,000
Fort St James (Perison) Airport: $27,000
Fort Ware (Kwadacha) Airport: $360,000
Mackenzie Airport: $90,000
Masset Municipal Airport: $720,000
North Peace Regional Airport (Fort St. John): $720,000
Northern Rockies Regional Airport (Fort Nelson): $360,000
North West Regional Airport (Terrace): $720,000
Prince George Airport: $720,000
Prince Rupert Airport: $720,000
Smithers Airport: 720,000
Stewart Aerodrome: $90,000
Tumbler Ridge Airport: $34,000
Valemount Airport: $37,000
Vanderhoof Airport: $90,000

Cariboo

South Cariboo Regional Airport (108 Mile House): $180,000
Anahim Lake Airport: $180,000
Lillooet Airport: $90,000
Quesnel Airport: $360,000
Williams Lake Regional Airport: $360,000

Kootenays

West Kootenay Regional Airport (Castlegar): $720,000
Canadian Rockies International Airport (Cranbrook): $720,000
Creston Valley Regional Airport: $180,000
Trail Regional Airport: $180,000
Fairmont Hot Springs Airport: $90,000
Golden Airport: $90,000
Grand Forks Airport: $90, 000
Nakusp Airport: $13,000
Nelson Airport: $90,000
Sparwood/Elk valley Airport: $60,000

Thompson Okanagan

Kamloops Airport: $720,000
Kelowna International Airport: $720,000
Merritt Airport: $90,000
Oliver Municipal Airport: $48,000
Princeton Aerodrome: $48,000
Revelstoke Airport: $180,000
Vernon Regional Airport: $360,000

South Coast

Abbotsford International Airport: $720,000
Bella Coola Airport: $180,000
Boundary Bay Airport (Delta): $180,000
Chilliwack Municipal Airport: $180,000
Pitt Meadows Regional Airport: $360,000
Powell River Airport: $360,000
Texada Island Airport: $90,000

Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands

Bella Bella Airport: $180,000
Campbell River Airport: $360,000
Comox Valley Airport: $360,000
Nanaimo Airport: $720,000
Alberni Valley Regional Airport (Port Alberni): $180,000
Tofino-Long Beach Airport: $180,000
Victoria International Airport: $720,000

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Funding for inter-city bus companies

The Province has provided a one-time investment of $6.2 million to 20 inter-city bus companies throughout B.C. to help them operate and recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To be eligible for the one-time grant for inter-city bus operators, companies were required to:

1. hold a valid Special Authorization Licence for Inter-City Bus;
2. be registered as a company in B.C.;
3. provide operating costs;
4. not be prepared for closure, dissolution or sale;
5. provide appropriate service levels as a grant condition; and
6. agree to report on the delivery of services.

The grant value for each business varied depending on information provided by the operator, including:

• vehicle capacity and operating costs per route;
• level of services provided; and
• if the company has received any other funding relief support.

There were no limits on employee numbers, size or geographic coverage. 

The following companies have met the eligibility criteria and are approved to receive funding:

Northern B.C.

Adventure Charters InterCity Bus: $127,795.68
Cold Shot Bus Service: $102,060
Eagle Transit Ltd.: $79,047

Cariboo

Owl Bus (Lillooet Car Pool): $38,016

Kootenays

Whitewater: $4,380

Thomson Okanagan

Big White: $20,970.75
Mountain Man Mike: $136,800
Silver City Stagelines: $189,675
Thompson Valley Charter Ltd.: $123,624

South Coast

Blue Cactus Coach Lines Ltd.: $130,171.50
Epic Rides: $224,400
Rider Express Transportation: $1,188,000
Squamish Connector: $128,174.40
Sunshine Coast Connector Ltd: $29,484
Universal Coach Lines Ltd.: $232,869.60
Whistler Rides: $70,200

Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands

Tofino Bus Services Inc.: $1,152,184.50
Waivin Flags Ltd.: $27,000
West Coast Trail Express: $704,700
Wilson’s Transportation: $1,467,223.20