XPost: bc.politics, van.general, vic.general   
   From: 40%Çonned@cda.ca   
      
   August 25, 2011 - The Victoria Times Colonist   
      
      
   Bring ferries back into government fold   
      
   The provincial government’s failure to recognize the damage being done to   
   Island communities   
   because of increasing ferry fares is as inexplicable as it is inexcusable, as   
   is the inability   
   of Liberal MLAs, like Parksville-Qualicum’s Ron Cantelon, from coastal   
   communities to press the   
   case for adequate support for the ferry service.   
   The government has invested billions in transportation improvements in Greater   
   Vancouver,   
   arguing that initiatives are critical to economic growth but has allowed B.C.   
   Ferry Services   
   Inc. to make it more difficult for goods, services and people to connect to   
   Greater Vancouver on   
   what was intended to be B.C’s. marine highway.   
      
   Due to fare hikes that far exceed the rate of inflation — since 2003, up more   
   than 40 per cent   
   on the main routes between the Mainland and Vancouver Island and 60 per cent   
   on the shorter   
   routes — tourists and transport companies are avoiding coming to the Island.   
   Passenger traffic   
   is down 3.7 per cent from summer 2010, and vehicle traffic is down 4.2 per   
   cent.   
      
   That has had an immediate impact on businesses, particularly tourism   
   operators, on Vancouver   
   Island and the Gulf Islands.   
      
   While B.C. Ferries CEO and president David Hahn can justifiably blame some of   
   his woes on the   
   increase in the value of the Canadian dollar and higher fuel costs, he cannot   
   ignore that ferry   
   fares have added to the problem.   
      
   Tourists are deterred by the increases in the costs of ferry travel. A   
   Whistler weekend getaway,   
   rather than Nanaimo, saves a family more than $200, when reservation fees are   
   included. That’s a   
   significant incentive to shun this city.   
      
   Not all of the ferry systems’ problems should be placed upon Hahn. Since the   
   B.C. government   
   shifted B.C. Ferries from a Crown corporation to a hybrid private company in   
   2003, it has   
   effectively frozen its subsidy to the service. At the same time, the   
   corporation is required by   
   law to increase fares to ensure that it makes a profit.   
      
   What’s happened is that fare increases have far outstripped the rate of   
   inflation and the   
   creation of a vicious cycle. Fare increases discourage people from using the   
   ferry service.   
   Reduced use means less revenue for the corporation, which then raises fares to   
   address that   
   problem. The process repeats, with ever-worsening consequences.   
      
   Wednesday, B.C. Ferries announced it expects a $20-million loss for this   
   fiscal year and warned   
   that Island residents can expect severe cutbacks in sailings on major routes.   
      
   The company is considering major layoffs and a plan to cut about 400 ferry   
   runs, mostly extra   
   sailings during busy times, to deal with losses that are expected to exceed   
   $20 million by the   
   end of its fiscal year. So expect long lineups and waits if you want to catch   
   a ferry on holiday   
   weekends or visit relatives at Christmas.   
      
   Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom disallowed further ferry fare hikes in   
   the spring and   
   this is how the petulant corporation is responding.   
      
   It’s time Lekstrom and his boss, Premier Christy Clark, realized the ferry   
   system is an   
   essential service in this province and not some luxurious tourism frill.   
      
   Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog was absolutely correct when he said cutting ferry   
   service “would be the   
   worst news for the city and the Island.”   
      
   “Most people want the corporation to return to being a public service, Crown   
   corporation,” he   
   said. “I’m happy to pay for the new highways in the province’s Interior so I   
   expect the people   
   from the Interior to help pay for our ferries.”   
      
   He’s right and it’s how the system was initially designed.   
      
   *******************************************************   
   "We CAN look after each other better than we do today.   
   We CAN have a fiscally responsible government.   
   We CAN have a strong economy; greater equality; a clean environment.   
   We CAN be a force for peace in the world."                      - Jack Layton   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)