Coastal ferry service has not been a part of the upcoming provincial election debate so far, but that did not stop Powell River-Sunshine Coast candidates from raising ferry-related issues during BC minister of transportation and infrastructure Todd Stone’s visit last week.
Stone spoke to attendees of a Powell River Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting on Wednesday, March 29, at Town Centre Hotel. He reiterated highlights from the BC Liberals’ recent balanced budget, its fifth consecutive, according to the minister.
Stone also announced close to $1.5 million in provincial grant funds for enhancements in city transportation infrastructure, as well as funds for tourism promotion and trades-related education equipment purchases.
He told the crowd of approximately 80 members of Powell River’s business community the government would continue to be prudent fiscal managers of the provincial economy.
After Stone concluded his general remarks, chamber president and emcee Jack Barr gave the audience an opportunity to ask questions.
BC Green Party candidate Kim Darwin asked Stone about federal funding to pay off BC Ferries’ debt and how that would affect the current ferry system.
“Would your ministry be interested in having the ferries return to the British Columbia government and be run as a marine highway?” asked Darwin.
Stone responded that he has advocated strongly to the federal government to increase its current subsidy for BC Ferries.
“We’re very grateful for the funding they have come forward with, but there has been no hint of that level of financial support coming from the federal government,” said Stone.
According to BC Ferries’ annual financial report from 2016, the corporation holds approximately $1.5 billion in debt.
“If there was a commitment of that level, obviously that would be something we’d be very interested in talking to them about,” said Stone.
Stone indicated that the ferry corporation’s debt presents a challenge to bringing the ferry system back into the ministry of transportation.
“The debt implications for the province’s bottom line and the impact it would have on our borrowing costs would be significant,” said Stone, “so that is a pretty significant inhibitor for making that move.”
Speaking about the difference in financial support the federal government provides for Atlantic coast ferries compared to BC Ferries, Stone said the province has made some inroads and is expecting a $100-million commitment from Ottawa through its Building Canada Fund for ferry infrastructure development on the Pacific coast.
BC Cascadia Party candidate Reuben Richards, the most recent addition to the local election race, raised the issue of whether the minister supported the idea of resident cards for ferry travel, as BC Ferries did in the 1970s.
“How do you feel about bringing back resident cards for local ferry users?” asked Richards.
Stone said he thought the idea seemed like a good one, but told Richards the provincial government does not have the ability to determine how BC Ferries operates.
“BC Ferries administrators will walk their ferry-advisory committees and the ministry of transportation through all kinds of analysis as to why they are not prepared to reintroduce that kind of program,” responded Stone. “We often agree to disagree, but it’s a decision for BC Ferries to make.”
The issue of home-porting the Comox ferry was raised and Stone said he recognizes that keeping the ferry here overnight would be more significant to Powell River than Comox.
New Democratic Party candidate Nicholas Simons asked the minister about his remarks and said that in the past, when he asked Stone about the issue, the minister said it was not possible.
“I’m pleased that it’s something on your radar now, I’m just wondering what has changed since you told me it was not being considered?” asked Simons.
Stone responded by saying nothing had changed and even BC Ferries’ management had looked at the option of home-porting the ferry in Powell River.
“The challenge that they identify is the crew and costs related to where the crew wants to live and moving that crew back and forth is the cost-inhibiter,” said Stone. “All I’m saying here today, which I think I’ve been consistent with in the times you’ve asked me, is we will continue to press BC Ferries on this, as you and everyone in this room will, on how important home-porting the vessel in Powell River would be.”
BC Liberals’ candidate Mathew Wilson asked if the minister supported the idea of constructing a highway bypass to lessen traffic in some of the lower Sunshine Coast’s communities.
“I know it seems to be more of a southern Sunshine Coast issue,” said Wilson, “but the fixed link is a real opportunity in terms of Powell River’s connectivity to the Lower Mainland that hopefully you’re supportive of.”
In regard to a fixed-link for the Sunshine Coast, emcee Barr asked about the status of the province’s study that was expected to be released in late 2016.
The ministry does not have an exact date of when it will be released but it will happen soon, said Stone.
“What I’ve wanted is to really begin a discussion,” said Stone. “There is a tremendous, untapped economic potential up and down the entire Sunshine Coast that a fixed link could go a long way to potentially unleash.”
Stone added that before the fixed link went in, much work would need to be done on existing road networks in order to connect with it.
After the breakfast meeting, Stone toured Catalyst Paper Corporation’s Powell River operations; it was the first time he had been inside the mill.
