A former MP is coming to the aid of a group of Western students who were forced to shut down their affordable shuttle service after receiving a stern legal warning from North American busing giant Greyhound.

John Nunziata, a Toronto-based lawyer and former Liberal MP, called Greyhound’s actions “shameful.”

The London Rocket was scheduled to transport students from Western to Toronto beginning Dec. 18. Using a school bus, organizers were able to keep costs low. They say their licensing and insurance was covered by a reputable Ontario bus company they hired to make the trips.

Thousands of students signed up for the Rocket’s mailing list and several had purchased tickets when organizers received a letter from a lawyer acting for Greyhound, demanding they immediately refund all tickets and shut down the operation.

“I think Greyhound is being a bully. I think they’re just afraid of a little competition,” said Nunziata, who’s agreed to represent the students.

Greyhound spokesperson Timothy Stokes said the London Rocket didn’t carry the appropriate licence required from the Ontario Highway Transport Board, and as a result was not operating legally.

“As regulated by the Ontario Highway Transport Board, all inter-city bus services are regulated and require all carriers operating within the province to be licensed. Our records show that the carrier in question was not licensed by the governing board. It is always our goal to work with the (transport board) to ensure the rules and policies they have placed for all carriers are fully enacted,” the Greyhound statement reads.

The students behind the London Rocket didn’t want to speak out, fearful their words might spark further legal action. Instead, they directedThe Free Pressto a statement on their website.

“We put in a lot of time, effort, and commitment in order to provide you the best and most affordable service out there, and we are very grateful for those of you who have encouraged us along the way,” the statement reads.

“We’re 19-year-old students. We don’t have money for lawyers and we don’t have the resources to defend ourselves.”

Nunziata says he was impressed with the students’ business initiative and thought the bus service was a good idea.

“I think the students ought to be congratulated. I’m impressed when you have teenagers who start a business,” he said. “Basically Greyhound wants their monopoly and they don’t want anybody else taking some of their business away. I think it’s shameful.”

alex.weber@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/AlexatLFPress

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JOHN NUNZIATA

Nunziata belonged to a group of young, high-profile Liberals called the Rat Pack, who were the voice of opposition to the Mulroney Progressive Conservatives in the 1980s. He was expelled from the party in 1996 after voting against the budget but continued to work as an independent MP. He has two children attending Western University.