Ferries starving communities
Creators of a website are asking BC Ferries passengers to refrain from buying food onboard vessels, as a way to protest the provincial ferry scheduling cutbacks and the corporation’s price increases.
Cutbacks to scheduled sailings and recent fuel surcharges come in the face of corporate bonuses that are worked into executive salaries, Stephanie Clark, Ferryhostage.com organizer said.
The group wants people to stop spending money on ferry sailings every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to shackle revenues. Clark said that by doing so people can engage in an active protest and send a message to BC Ferries that the problem isn’t going to go away until a measured solution is found to the problem facing commuters.
Ferryhostage.com is requesting that people link to its Facebook page and share the hunger strike graphics available.
“We are not organized anywhere close to the extent we should be to be effective and to apply pressure,” Clark said. “This is hurting us. We aren’t utilizing social media in a way that could dramatically widen our reach and increase our political potential.”
Clark wrote that making cuts in smaller coastal communities by trying to reach the $26-million mark is creating a situation where these places aren’t likely to be able to recover.
Setting it straight
A pancake breakfast at Olive Devaud Residence on Wednesday, February 19, is not open to the public. The event, which takes place from 9 to 11 am, is only for former workers at the seniors’ care residence.
