Johns says that model is an "excellent" one, but that funding for the service remained short-term — lasting until 2026 — and the federal government should work on building long-term infrastructure.
"Right now, it's being studied at the Transport Committee," he told Kathryn Marlow, host of CBC's All Points West.
"What we're hearing from multiple witnesses is that … we need a national service or we need to provide funding for the private sector operators now."
In addition to B.C. Bus North, northern B.C. and the central Interior have also had other regional operators like Ebus step in after the departure of Greyhound.