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Editorial: Rethinking ferries

Powell River residents will once again have to dig deeper into their pockets to travel with BC Ferries. The company has announced it is adding a fuel surcharge on most routes beginning June 1 because of rising fuel costs. A 2.

Powell River residents will once again have to dig deeper into their pockets to travel with BC Ferries. The company has announced it is adding a fuel surcharge on most routes beginning June 1 because of rising fuel costs.

A 2.5-per-cent fee will be added on the three main routes between the mainland and Vancouver Island. Minor routes, including the three serving Powell River, will see a five-per-cent increase.

Since the provincial government changed BC Ferries from a Crown corporation into a publicly owned private company in 2003, fares have steadily increased. Rising fares affect tourism and businesses and coastal communities bear the brunt of the impact.

The BC Ferry Commissioner is in the middle of a price cap review that will regulate what fares BC Ferries may charge between 2012 and 2016. Many have questioned whether the current model is sustainable for coastal residents as well as the travelling public. It’s time for the provincial government to take a serious look at the model and find a solution that works.