A Red Deer man living with cerebral palsy is speaking out on the imminent loss of Greyhound bus service in Western Canada.

Don Melvin has taken Greyhound for 57 years, his entire life. He depends on the bus service to reach medical appointments.

“I have a doctor here but I’m seeing a specialist in Calgary. It’s going to be hard to get to,” said Melvin, who uses a wheelchair.

Greyhound announced this month it would discontinue bus and freight services at the end of October, saying rural routes were no longer sustainable.

Melvin has a solution.

“Have it subsidized by the government. Because they’re saying there’s not enough passengers. If it was subsidized somehow, that may work,” he said.

Melvin is hoping that others will talk publicly about what impact that decision will have on them.

“I’m thoroughly upset with Greyhound closing because I’m thinking, what about people that need the service up north, like workers that don’t drive. If you couldn’t drive, how would you get from place to place,” he said.

Greyhound was one of the topics at the recent meeting of Canadian premiers.

They’re calling on the federal government to work with Greyhound to temporarily maintain services so communities can devise alternative services.