Nova Scotia is joining its Maritime counterparts to provide financial support to Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus (Maritime Bus) to maintain bus operations throughout the region. The Province has allocated more than $400,000 to the company.

“Maritime Bus provides an important, accessible and affordable bus service linking Nova Scotia communities within our province and to our Maritime neighbours,” said Public Works Minister Kim Masland. “We are working with our counterparts in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to keep the service viable.”

This financial support will help the company cover its losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, maintain rural and northern routes, and respond to the increased desire to travel as the economy and tourism begin to rebound.

New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are contributing a combined $500,000 to the company. The financial support of each province is proportional, based on the ratio of kilometres driven by Maritime Bus in each province.

Quick Facts:

• Maritime Bus is a family-owned and operated business based in Prince Edward Island
• prior to the pandemic, Maritime Bus employed more than 200 people in Nova Scotia
• the company took over Acadian Lines routes in 2012 after Acadian abandoned its scheduled service operations in Atlantic Canada
• Maritime Bus also provides parcel freight services, including blood shipped by Canadian Blood Services throughout the Maritime hospital network and other medical shipments among hospitals and pharmacies

Source: Release