XPost: bc.politics, van.general, vic.general   
   From: Callida@home.cda   
      
   BC Ferries.  Privatized by the Gordon Campbell government - aka BC 'Liberals'   
   - and that   
   private corporation went on to screw British Columbians over both in reduced   
   service and in   
   ever-rising fares.  Mr Abbott needs to think about making BC Ferries a   
   government run   
   transportation system again.   
      
   This latest 'threat' from BC Ferries and its CEO, David Hahn, is one push and   
   financial grab   
   too many.   
   _______________________________   
   The Province - February 5, 2011   
      
   Gov't must review funding framework for B.C. Ferries in wake of fee-hike   
   warning: Abbott   
      
   B.C. Liberal party candidate George Abbott said he will review the law   
   governing the B.C.   
   Ferries and its subsidy program after the company said it would have to raise   
   fares up to 100   
   per cent over four years if it doesn’t get more government money.   
      
   “Government needs to take a hard look at the legislative framework and the   
   funding   
    mechanism,” Abbott said in a release.   
   The Coastal Ferry Act passed in 2003 included regulation of fares and   
   increases, subject to a   
   cap set every four years by an independent ferries commissioner.   
      
   B.C. Ferries CEO David Hahn has submitted a request to the commissioner to   
   raise the rates   
   between 2012 and 2016 by up to 26 per cent a year on northern routes, 14 per   
   cent on minor   
   routes and five per cent for major routes, Abbott said.   
      
   Hahn said B.C. Ferries needs an increase to its $150-million yearly subsidy or   
   it may have to   
   cut service.   
   ____________________________________   
      
   "Cut service" AGAIN, you mean, Hahn.  If you can't run BC's ferry service   
   without constantly   
   gouging its users and its government while reducing services, you need to go   
   back to the   
   United States and find an easier job.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)