Transport committee  As Mr. D'Angelo pointed out, there is a fund that is helping some of our private operators offset the additional costs of electrification. Depending on the use of the vehicle, it has its spots. For example, on the east coast and the west coast, servicing crews are able to come in, pick up guests, take them on their tour, go back and plug the bus in overnight.

Transport committee  Yes. Our industry was very happy and thankful for the support we received from the government. It's just that the U.S. handled it a little bit differently.

Transport committee  The U.S. handled their pandemic support for the industry very differently as well. Some of that support helped to backstop some of the losses that private carriers would have had from lack of ridership.

Transport committee  I'm aware that the provinces are actively looking at this and probably working with their neighbouring provinces, but I don't think that's going to get us a solution that will get Canadians across Canada.

Transport committee  In our industry, fares have gone up because costs have gone up. As I said in my testimony, in very few cases do our operators have a subsidy model or a program that they can use to offset the costs of ridership, so they do need to pass that on to the riders. Anything that costs them additional funds—which could include policy changes, changes to equipment, gas taxes and others—gets passed on, because our operators are solely dependent on the fare box.

Transport committee  I think there are a lot of resources in the system. There are a lot of players, like we have here today, who are willing to help. I think, given the opportunity with the right supports, the private-public system that's already in play can work. We just need the mechanism to connect those tickets, to connect those routes and to support private operators.

Transport committee  I believe the committee has invited Coach Canada to come, and I think Michael Cassidy is coming next week. I agree. I think there's an opportunity for the federal government to take a leadership position through innovation and other mechanisms to help fast-forward what will likely happen and to help reconnect those communities that are currently without service.

Transport committee  Thank you for giving me an opportunity to finish the “what we recommend” part of my submission. Certainly tax incentives are helpful, as are fuel rebates. Private operators do not get fuel rebates, or HST or GST. These are levers that are available to the federal government to make happen now.

Transport committee  I think there is a lot of out-of-the-box thinking happening already in our industry. We're working in partnership with both privately and publicly funded organizations. I think the mechanisms that are available to the government are to open up some of the current programs to private operators to ensure that we can help to support this connectivity.

Transport committee  It continues to be challenging for private operators, postpandemic. Our members were very thankful for the support the government did come to the table with in terms of rent subsidies and wage subsidies. You're absolutely right: Their assets were parked, and they're not meant to be parked.

Transport committee  Remarks have been submitted and are available for the committee. Thank you.

Transport committee  Thank you, Chair and committee members, for inviting Motor Coach Canada, MCC, to present in front of the committee on the impacts of COVID-19 and the reduction of bus services on Canadians and communities across Canada. MCC is a national, not-for-profit, member-based association representing motorcoach and tour operators across Canada.