On July 9, Greyhound Canada announced it would be ceasing service in British Columbia.
Greyhound buses were one form of transportation for inmates released from corrections facilities after they completed their sentence.
In an emailed statement, Corrections B.C. tells PrinceGeorgeMatters it's prepared for the stop in service.
“In many instances, inmates are picked up by friends and family at the end of their custodial sentence," spokesperson Cindy Rose writes. "Other transportation alternatives include taxi vouchers, rides from staff, and the pickup service that some community resources like treatment centres provide."
Hope Latham, with the public safety ministry, says another service provided by B.C. Transit will replace some of the services provided by Greyhound.
"Prince George Regional Correctional Centre has used Greyhound service as one way to return inmates leaving custody to their ‘court of origin’," she says. "The new B.C. Bus North service provided by B.C. Transit will replace some of the services previously available through Greyhound."
Rose says B.C. Corrections will use more of the alternatives listed above going forward, while also being aware that the federal and provincial governments, as well as the territorial-working group, are looking at the intercity bus issue and private operators' interest in some intercity routes. They are hopeful it could generate solutions and further discussion on potential options for other inmate transportation.
B.C. Corrections also says they take into consideration an inmate's release date and time so it can coordinate with proper transportation modes for them to get to their court of origin.
“Still, B.C. Corrections cannot require an inmate to use a specific transportation option or go to a specific location, nor can B.C. Corrections prevent the person from going somewhere unless doing so could contravene a condition of a court-ordered probation order," says Rose.
Greyhound operations are scheduled to officially cease on Oct. 31 at 11:59 p.m.
