Powell River Chamber of Commerce has ramped up its fiscal fairness campaign and called upon all other BC chambers of commerce to join by asking the provincial government to bring immediate changes to the cost and structure of BC Ferries.
So far, 21 chambers of commerce from coastal communities have agreed to join Powell River’s campaign.
BC Ferry Corporation was created as a government-sanctioned tolled highway service. This was established as part of the government’s commitment to the regional economic growth of all regions of the province.
Gordon Wilson, former leader of the BC Liberal Party and former New Democratic Party minister of BC Ferries, wrote a report about fiscal fairness for ferry-dependent communities released in April 2013. In it he identified that fairness is a practice of government that ensures all taxpaying citizens are treated in an equitable manner. Because Canada is decentralized, a strong fiscal transfer program is vital to make sure that all Canadians, in every part of the country, have reasonable and comparable levels of public services at reasonable comparable levels of cost.
More recently, in response to the province’s service reduction announcements, local government officials drafted a letter to the provincial government asking for collaboration with a working group to design connecting schedules for all routes serving the community.
The letter, addressed to Todd Stone, minister of transportation and infrastructure, was signed by Colin Palmer, chair of Powell River Regional District Board, City of Powell River Mayor Dave Formosa and Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation Chief Clint Williams.
The letter urges BC Ferries to engage in a process that is fair-minded and takes into account economic interests of all affected coastal communities.
“It is imperative that scheduling solutions be developed to mitigate the negative impact on our residents,” said Formosa. “Many businesses, sports teams and organizations will be negatively affected.”
The chamber sent a camera team up to Haida Gwaii to provide live online video coverage of the public meetings in Queen Charlotte City and Massett. The camera crew also broadcast the public meeting in Prince Rupert, and Jack Barr, chamber president, attended that meeting as well. He also attended the public meeting in Campbell River about cuts to the Quadra Island service.
“BC Ferries is trying to shut down our highway for longer periods and make it harder for people or goods to afford to travel our highways,” said Barr. “It’s very bad for business.” Barr said that out of about 45 chambers in coastal communities, more than 10 have committed by letter to join the campaign and another 10 to 15 have said they support it, but need to get approval from their boards.
“We’re in excess of 50 per cent of the chambers wanting to join us,” he said.
From there, Barr said he expects an executive committee will be formed.
“I’m not trying to be dramatic, but BC Ferries’ policies and plans are killing our town. We are hearing from many other Chambers on the coast and the islands that they cannot survive without a return to the basics: good, affordable transportation connections.”
A massive protest against BC Ferries’ cuts is being staged on January 18, and interest has spread beyond the Sunshine Coast, one of the event organizers. Only two days after emailing a general call to action under the banner of the BC Ferries Coalition, Jef Keighley, chair of Sunshine Coast Senior Citizens, said he was being “flooded” with responses from ferry-dependent communities—and some were already expressing interest in holding protests of their own on the same day.
Among the first to indicate interest were Powell River, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island and the north coast.
“I think people are welcoming the initiative,” said Keighley. “People recognize the need to have a common voice and a common presence. I think we’re going to see substantial buy-in.”
“We’re definitely onside,” confirmed Formosa. “I think we’re going to try to find someone who will take it on and organize the community.”
Formosa said Powell River will be “hammered” if the announced service cuts are implemented in April.
“We’ve already got people who are putting their houses up for sale,” he said. “We can’t exist. If this happens, all of our sports teams are done.”
~ With files from John Gleeson, Coast Reporter
