NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 2021TRAN0023-000577 March 30, 2021 Inter-city bus operators, regional airports receive funding from Province VICTORIA ʹTwenty 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 ʹespecially those in rural areas of the province ʹ 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 government͛s 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 BC͛s Restart Plan. Two backgrounders follow. Contact: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Media Relations Government Communications and Public Engagement 250 356-8241 Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect BACKGROUNDER 1 For Immediate Release Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 2021TRAN0023-000577 March 30, 2021 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 Wilson͛s Transportation: $1,467,223.20 Contact: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Media Relations Government Communications and Public Engagement 250 356-8241 Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect BACKGROUNDER 2 For Immediate Release Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure 2021TRAN0023-000577 March 30, 2021 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 ʹairports receiving $720,000 Category B ʹairports receiving $360,000 Category C ʹairports receiving $180,000 Category D ʹairports 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 Contact: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Media Relations Government Communications and Public Engagement 250 356-8241 Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect.