The M.L.A. for Portage la Prairie is optimistic new provincial rules for intercity bus service are a step in the right direction.  These changes had to be examined after Greyhound threatened to scrap its non-profitable routes in Manitoba a few years ago. The province partnered with Greyhound to maintain service but that agreement expires March 31st. The government has recently unveiled new amendment to the regulations which would help sustain the service on key routes and offer greater flexibility for carriers. M.L.A. Ian Wishart says he is pleased to see the government be more flexible and business friendly.

Wishart says Saskatchewan and Alberta in particular have had to make similar changes in the past and it has worked very well there. In those provinces, smaller scale local businesses have entered the marketplace to fill the void.   As for how these change will impact Portage la Prairie and the Central Plains, Wishart says being along the Trans-Canada Highway should ensure we are not affected in the foreseeable future, but feeder lines to outlying communities could be impacted very quickly.