Community leaders are organizing a multi-pronged campaign to deliver a strong message to the provincial government about the devastating impact of soaring ferry fares.
City of Powell River Councillor Dave Formosa, who is also the president of the Powell River Chamber of Commerce, said at the May 19 council meeting that a rally is being planned for Monday, June 13 at the Westview ferry terminal. Some chamber businesses may shut their doors for part of that day, he added, to drive home the message that increasing fares are hurting the town’s economy.
Formosa attended the BC Liberal Party policy convention on May 13 and 14 in Penticton. Formosa and Scott Randolph, manager of Powell River Regional Economic Development Society, had a meeting with Blair Lekstrom, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “We explained to him the fact that the proposed increase of eight per cent a year to the minor routes over the next four years is going to equate to an almost 40- to 45-per cent increase cumulatively to our rates,” he said. “Those ferries are our highway. Our economics, our tourism, our seniors, our whole economy is already taxed and if this happens, it’s too much to bear. We’re going to be fighting it tooth and nail.”
Lekstrom heard the message “loud and clear,” Formosa said. “He stated he was looking for help and ammunition to convince his colleagues that maybe what is needed at this time is a review of the legislation. Right now, BC Ferries is just doing what they were legislated to do.”
Council passed a motion to send a letter to Lekstrom advising of the impact of rising ferry fares on the community and requesting the provincial government undertake a full review of the Coastal Ferry Act and the privatization of BC Ferries. As well, the motion asked that all BC Ferries fares be frozen until the review is completed.
BC’s independent ferries commissioner announced the same day as the council meeting that he has launched a sweeping review of the legislation, including whether rising fares are affordable and sustainable. Gordon Macatee, who started his term as ferries commissioner May 1, said he wanted to take a look at the eight-year-old law that governs BC Ferries “with fresh eyes” to see how it, and the rate structure system, serves the public.
Lekstrom said he supports the review and plans to introduce legislation soon to establish a price cap for 2012 while the commissioner conducts his review, which is expected to take six months. “Coastal ferry services are an integral part of the provincial transportation network and families living in coastal communities need access to reliable and affordable ferry services,” Lekstrom wrote in a letter to Macatee. “As such, I support you undertaking a review, including making recommendations to government to address concerns around affordability and sustainability.”
Councillor Debbie Dee said Lekstrom is encouraging people to email him and let him know how rising fares are affecting them and their families. His email is [email protected].
Meanwhile, Colin Palmer, Powell River Regional District board chair, has organized a meeting with Lekstrom and up to a dozen regional district representatives from coastal communities on the same day, June 13.
Palmer said if the review leads to anything, it probably could lead to the minor routes becoming part of the ministry of transportation and infrastructure. “If that is the case, the subsidy is then shared by everybody in the province,” he said. “Just as the Sea-to-Sky highway cost $800 million, we all pay for that.”
