Quebec intercity bus carriers criticize $200 million in cuts

An Orleans Express bus is seen Thursday, January 28, 2021 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Express)

An organization representing intercity bus carriers has joined in criticizing the Legault government’s $200 million in cuts to public transportation. It claims that services on certain local and regional routes are now under threat.

The Bus Carriers Federation (FTA) is joining other groups, including the Union of Quebec Municipalities, in calling on the CAQ government to reverse its decision.

The budget for the Public Transit Development Assistance Program (PADTC) has been reduced to $998 million for the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2028. The program’s new budget was recently revealed, sparking outrage and astonishment among many.

According to the FTA, the cuts will reduce the financial assistance provided per intercity bus line from $185,000 to $125,000 annually.

“Each carrier obviously does its own analysis of its network, but this news and this new program can only lead to service reductions, or even the potential abandonment of routes,” said Nicolas Maheux, vice president of the public sector division at the FTA, in an interview.

The routes most likely to be affected are more local or regional connections, he said.

Maheux, who is also the CEO of Groupe Autobus Maheux in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, said that his company is considering the future of two routes: Amos-Rivière-Héva and Chibougameau-Val-d’Or.

“We haven’t yet decided exactly what service reductions we will have to make. (...) But without public support for these services, we will unfortunately have to consider reducing the offer, which is exactly the opposite of what we want. And the first to pay for this will be the users,” said Maheux.

He points out that carriers must obtain authorization from the Quebec Transport Commission before making any changes to their services.

The FTA points out that the financial assistance provided in recent years was “already insufficient.”

It had hoped for a budget increase that would reflect inflation in the new version of the program.

“The financial assistance available under component 3 of the program makes it possible to maintain services that are operating at a loss. (...) By implementing this program, the government is choosing to support these lines in order to maintain services, even in areas where profitability is definitely problematic,“ explained Maheux.

Transport Minister Jonatan Julien argued last week that the $998 million in support is ”significantly higher" than the level seen before the pandemic.

‘Inappropriate’ terms and conditions

The FTA also wanted a review of the PADTC’s terms and conditions, which it currently considers “inappropriate and make financial assistance inaccessible to communities and businesses.”

Maheux points out that money from the program remains unused, since one of the conditions for accessing it is a financial commitment from the RCMs to cover part of the costs. Several of them are reluctant to advance funds from their own budgets to support services that extend beyond their borders.

“We are asking that the program’s terms and conditions allow intercity transport providers and users to benefit from the funds that Quebec is willing to invest without the municipal community having to commit to paying for services that extend beyond their borders,” said Maheux.

In June 2020, the Conference of Prefects of Abitibi-Témiscamingue called on the government to address the issue of regional intercity public transportation, arguing that “the RCMs will no longer pay for Quebec City.”

They maintained that intercity transportation is Quebec City’s responsibility.

The FTA has six intercity transportation companies among its members, including Keolis and Transdev.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 6, 2026.