Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses this evening. I certainly appreciate your testimony.
I have quite a few questions, but I would start by saying, in fairness to the witnesses, that my riding of Essex is down by Windsor, next to the busiest international border crossing in North America.
I suppose, to start off, Mr. Chair, this study could have simply been called “intercity transport by bus in Canada and the United States”, because for an area like Windsor, there's a lot of cross-border travel. Doctors and nurses go across on our transport system. I realize that's not what the study is studying, but I had to bring that up, because even for something as silly as a football game.... The Detroit Lions, by the way, just lost their last one, but won three in a row.
There's something called the Tunnel Bus, or the “special bus”, that many of our patrons jumped on to go to a Detroit Lions game, a Red Wings game or a Detroit Tigers game. After two and a half years of COVID, it just opened up in the middle of November. It truly affects people's lives.
First and foremost, Mr. Cassidy, from Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus, I really respect you, sir, especially for the fact that you said that although the industry is really tough, it's the right thing to do. Those are some pretty powerful words in the face of an industry that's, quite frankly, been relatively walked past.
Mr. Cassidy, this is to you first, sir, and then I'll be following up with the same question to Mr. Wabinski. Would it be fair to say that a lot of the struggles are due to the labour shortages? It's not only our drivers, but our mechanics.
Mr. Cassidy, this it to you first, please, sir.