A multi-community rally to raise awareness of rising ferry fares will occur on Friday, July 8.
Scott Randolph, Powell River Regional Economic Development Society manager, said a number of coastal communities will rally at noon, despite a review of the Coastal Ferry Act that is underway. “We’re not going to wait six months and see what the results are,” he said. “We want to make sure that people stay engaged, on top of that issue, are writing their government, writing the BC Ferry Commissioner, telling them that we need concrete solutions.”
BC Ferry Commissioner Gord Macatee is conducting a review of the act. Macatee is investigating the financial relationship between BC Ferries and the government and whether rising ferry fares are affordable and sustainable.
The commissioner had given preliminary approval in April to ferry rate increases for each of the next four years, including 4.15 per cent on major routes and 8.23 per cent on minor routes. The government capped the increase at 4.15 per cent for all major and minor routes, beginning April 2012.
The Powell River rally will begin at noon on Friday, July 8 at Willingdon South, the lot at the corner of Marine Avenue and Abbotsford Street known as the old arena site. There will be a few speeches by community leaders, then participants will march up to MLA Nicholas Simons’ office, at 4675 Marine. Simons, who represents Powell River-Sunshine Coast, will address participants there, followed by one other speech from a government representative. Randolph said Blair Lekstrom, the minister of transportation and infrastructure, has been invited to attend.
Randolph spoke about the rally at the June 15 Powell River Chamber of Commerce luncheon. PRREDS has a ferry committee, made up by board members and representatives from the chamber, Powell River Regional District, City of Powell River and Simons’ office.
The number one issue facing Powell River is rising ferry fares, Randolph said, adding the issue is not about BC Ferries, but about the level of subsidy the provincial government gives to BC Ferries. “While there are service issues and inefficiencies, this particular issue that we’re dealing with is about the Coastal Ferry Act and how the provincial government has dealt with it up until now,” he said. “It’s the Coastal Ferry Act that’s killing us.”
The notion that minor routes are going to be profitable is a fallacy, Randolph also said, and the notion that revenues from profitable major routes can’t be shared with minor routes is terrible and one of the biggest stumbling blocks. “BC Ferries should be able to take revenues from the major routes, whatever profits they make, and redistribute them to support the other routes,” he said.
Patrick Brabazon, Powell River Regional District director for Electoral Area A, reminded the group that Colin Palmer, regional board chair, was organizing a meeting with Lekstrom and a delegation of regional district representatives from coastal communities. “It’s recognized by the regional districts that this is a political issue,” Brabazon said.
