The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
While those within the community of Snow Lake were still reeling and trying to come to terms with the news that they stand to lose their lone public transportation link, government officials gathered in the community to form a course of action. The community's mayor, Garry Zamzow, opened a hastily called meeting Saturday and with a little over 50 locals in the seats, he explained essentials of the potential loss and a course of action to deal with and defeat Greyhound's proposed cuts to the region's bus service. The meeting, organized by MP Niki Ashton's office, was held in the Lawrie Marsh Hall. Both Ashton and her provincial counterpart, MLA Gerard Jennissen, shuffled other commitments and motored in to be in attendance. Prior to handing the floor over to the local MP, Zamzow thanked both government members for their quick response on the issue. Ashton began by stating that she had fielded complaints from across the region over the potential loss/curtailment of Greyhound's service. However, after becoming aware that Snow Lake could lose their service entirely, she felt it was imperative the community be heard and that plans to fight the edict be formulated. "I think it is absolutely unbelievable, unjust, and it completely disregards the wealth that they (Greyhound) have gained from our region and certainly the wealth they have gained from Snow Lake," said Ashton. "We recognize completely the absolute essential nature of this bus service. I'm sure many of you recognize that this goes far beyond Snow Lake or even the line between Flin Flon and Thompson." The MP also said that as a fellow northerner, she understood the importance of Snow Lake's transportation system. "I have made it very clear from my side that this impacts Snow Lake particularly, given there is no rail or air service, and that truly it's the only public transportation that connects to Snow Lake," she continued. On an action note, Ashton's office has contacted chiefs and mayors and their councils, asking that they pass resolutions condemning the cuts and urging their citizens to voice the same message. She also passed a letter of protest around the hall and all in attendance signed it. This same letter will weave its way through all affected communities prior to Ashton presenting it when she appears before the Motor Transport Board. She commended the mayor and council (none other than the mayor were in attendance) for their proactive work on the issue. At this point, the community's long time MLA, Gerard Jennissen, rose and spoke. He began by noting that meetings such as this were in his mind preaching to the converted. He felt that everyone in attendance could very likely come up with a multitude of reasons why Greyhound shouldn't cut their service. "But it's the board that we have to get our message to, not each other," Jennissen said. "And there is an important protocol and series of steps that we have to take in order to make that happen. We have to get our argument to them and convince them to have a hearing in Snow Lake. Sure, they can have them in other places as well, but there must be one here." The MLA explained that in order to officially object to the cuts, a person or business had to put forward a cheque for $50 along with their intervener notice. "I'm not happy about that," Jennissen said his voice rising. "I don't think that our citizens should have to pay $50 to be listened to. It's undemocratic." Jennissen said that even though the fee was a requirement, there were ways of circumventing it, if need be. He advised that as long as six or seven people send in letters of intervention, accompanied by the $50 fee, it should trigger a hearing and if there was a hearing, people who wanted to speak likely wouldn't be turned away. However, if by chance people were, Jennissen asked that citizens send their arguments to their MP, mayor, and himself. See 'Argu...' on pg. Continued from pg. "We have paid our $50, you can give us your arguments and no matter how long it takes, we will read each one of them into the record," Jennissen vowed. "We will get around this; we will get the message through." In conclusion, the feisty MLA stated, "I defy you to find me any two cities the size of Flin Flon and Thompson in the world that are not connected by bus service. Oh, and I know the argument that we are going to get from GreyhoundÉ 'We aren't making enough money.' Well, then I sayÉ 'Show me your books'! You can't just drop the (routes) you don't want and keep the cream. You have to cover everyone." Following this, a good half-hour was spent listening to the concerns of locals in attendance and formulating a defense. Near the close of the meeting, the mayor rose and asked everyone to fill out the statements of opposition that were mailed to all community households at the end of the previous week. "We will put them all together and get them to the Motor Transport Board," said Zamzow. Ending the meeting on a note of levity, local bus depot owner, Hank Dyck asked, "Will you be sending them out by bus?" My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
