Mr. Speaker, I am tabling a couple of petitions from Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, which I am honoured to represent.
The first petition has to do with rural transit, which is vital in our communities. The petitioners are concerned that the Government of Canada's rural transit solutions fund has invested in bus transit feasibility studies in rural Ontario and Alberta, but Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay has been poorly served by the loss of Greyhound buses in 2018, and there is no transit service available for residents that they can rely on.
Transport Canada is owner and operator of the Penticton Airport. Many times, airports are being utilized across the country as hubs for bus services, so the petitioners are asking that we establish in their communities a rural transit options service for residents and communities in Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay and to declare that Penticton Airport be available for private busing operators who wish to utilize it as a passenger hub.