Please feel free to use the letter below as a template for yourself or your organization.
A list of relevant Ministers with their addresses can be found at the end of the letter.
Both the letter and the list of addresses can be downloaded as a PDF at the end of the page.
March 2, 2021
Dear Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming,
The Rural Health Network is pleased to endorse the Let’s Ride campaign for a B.C. wide unified public transit network, publicly owned and operated. There is presently limited to no reliable or affordable transportation in Rural or Remote communities especially in winter. Thus it is particularly important to have reliable bus service.
Since Greyhound stopped serving the majority of provinces in 2018, rural and remote communities have no bus service to attend health appointments, or to continue social contacts.
Private pay for service or family and friends (if available or able) are the only way for those living rurally or remotely to attend appointments. Costs for attending health care are much higher for those living rurally or remotely. The preliminary study done by the Centre for Rural Health Research, found that out of pocket expenses average approximately $2234.00 per year for people travelling for health care from rural and remote areas. There is also, at times, a need for the person to be accompanied and this can increase the cost. It also makes travel to medical appointments so difficult for some that they choose not to go, sometimes with serious consequences.
It means not only difficult access to health care but also lack of contact for families with members living in different communities. For many, especially seniors, lack of bus service limits visits to friends and relatives who do not live near. This lack of options to socialize leads to isolation and the possible mental health issues this impacts
Good reliable and affordable bus service is an important part of a Climate Action Plan. Offering people a good alternative to driving individual vehicles can serve to reduce greenhouse gases.
The lack of bus transportation is a very serious problem, a true crisis for many in rural British Columbia. We believe the “Let Ride “ campaign for a B.C. wide unified transit network publicly owned and operated will address these issues and make B.C . a healthier place to live for all its residents.
Thanks for your consideration. we look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
cc: Premier John Horgan
Minister of Health, Adrian Dix
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Sheila Malcolmson,
President and CEO BC Transit, Erinn Pinkerton,
Minister of Citizens’ Services, Lisa Beare
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Politicians’ addresses March 2021
Premier John Horgan Premier@gov.bc.ca
PO Box 9041
Stn ProvGovt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E1
Minister of Health HLTH.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Adrian Dix
PO Box 9050
Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
Rob Fleming Minister.Transportation@gov.bc.ca
PO Box 9055
Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Minister of Mental Health and Addiction
Sheila Malcolmson MMHA.Minister@gov.bc.ca
PO Box 9087
Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E4
Minister of Citizens’ Services CITZ.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Lisa Beare
PO Box 9068
Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
President and CEO B.C. Transit
Erinn Pinkerton
520 Gorge Rd. E.
Victoria, BC V8W 9T5
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The following Email was sent to our BC Rural Health Network members:
The lack of reliable, consistent, and cost effective transportation has always been identified as one of the top barriers for access to healthcare services for those in rural and remote communities.
The “Let’s Ride” campaign is promoting a BC-wide unified public transit network, which would be publicly owned and operated.
This campaign is requesting support from those communities where a lack of transportation impacts the ability of residents to access healthcare services, as well as the ability to maintain social interactions outside of their own community, a factor in maintaining optimum mental health.
For complete details of the “Let’s Ride” campaign please see their website at
https://bcwidebus.wordpress.com/es.
If you or your organization can support this initiative, we encourage you to contact the BC Government ministries which are involved.
We have attached a template letter to this email for you to use if you find it helpful. We encourage you to include in your letter the specific issues your community faces.
We are also including a list of ministries with their Minister and contact information to whom you can mail your letter. Rural transportation is part of several ministries’ business. Letters received Canada Post attract more attention than emails.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
BC Rural Health Network Access to Care Committee
Peggy Skelton
Pegasis McGauley
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