Powell River residents vented their anger and frustration about ferry service during provincial government public consultation meetings on Monday, November 19.
About 100 residents attended the open house held in the evening, while about 60 went to a small group discussion in the afternoon.
The province is consulting with the public about the future of the coastal ferry system. Forecasts predict BC Ferries will rack up annual deficits of $56 million in the next five years and the province has responded by saying the corporation must cut $30 million by 2016. BC Ferries has already realized $4 million in savings by reducing sailings on the major routes.
Many people pointed out, during both meetings, that increasing fares have contributed to lower ridership, which is driving BC Ferries’ revenues down.
A number of people who have bed and breakfasts spoke about how their businesses are suffering, because of high ferry fares. As well, other business owners talked about how fares have increased their transportation costs.
Other people questioned why inland ferries were free and said coastal ferries should be free as well. Other issues included docking the vessel on the Powell River-Comox route in Powell River, the need for new vessels on the Powell River-Comox and Powell River-Texada Island routes and the impact of frequent sailing cancellations.
Gordon Wilson, a former MLA who was at one time the minister responsible for BC Ferries, said the number one message coming from people who attended the small group session was “don’t cut service and don’t increase the fares.”
As well, Wilson said provincial officials needed to hear the message that several people repeated during the meeting about returning the responsibility for the ferry system to the province. “We don’t seem to be able to get it across to the decision makers that BC Ferries is simply an extension of the British Columbia highway system,” he said.
City of Powell River Mayor Dave Formosa said ridership will go down even more when fares increase 12 per cent over the next four years. “Communities like Powell River are being killed by the cost of ferries,” he said. “If the government wants votes, they should have a look at that issue, because communities like ours are sick and tired of being held hostage and being told that we choose to live here...The ferries are our highways and we have to stop killing each other.”
Warren Kiland, a member of the Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee and an employee of Lafarge, which runs two limestone operations on Texada Island, said 20 per cent of its employees travel every day by ferry. “Those people won’t be able to make it every day if you cut service,” he said. “Everybody is starting to leave because it’s easier to go to Fort McMurray than it is to get to Texada.”
MLA Nicholas Simons, who represents Powell River-Sunshine Coast, said the ferry system is a public service and needs to be treated like a public service. “We don’t call it subsidies when we fund our education system,” he said. “We feel that our contributions to the provincial economy are significant and have been for a long time.” He also said coastal communities need a safe, affordable ferry system that was not subject to whims.
Kevin Richter, assistant deputy minister of the ministry of transportation and infrastructure, told participants it’s important to let government know the central part the ferry system plays in the lives of coastal residents. “The ferry system is a very, very integral part of your daily lives,” he said, adding residents should provide that input on the survey form.
Judy Kirk, whose firm was hired to conduct the consultation process, said the group has heard loud and clear that people are concerned about the socio-economic impacts of any reductions in ferry service and whether the government has analyzed or understands what those impacts would be. “I think that many of you here have spoken to that in ways that affect your businesses, your families and your lives,” she said.
The discussion guide and feedback form are available online.
