More than 80 per cent of residents of Quadra Island have signed a petition calling on the Campbell Liberal government to freeze ferry fares and review the Coastal Ferry Act. Frustrated business leaders and community members rode the ferry to Victoria this week, where they delivered their petition to Claire Trevena, MLA for North Island, and held a protest.
Thousands of names have been presented in the legislature this session. Opposition Critic for Ferries and Ports, Gary Coons, says the petitions and protest is proof that residents of ferry dependent communities are fed up with the government’s refusal to recognize the importance of the province’s marine highways.
“No one on the mainland would accept a ten, fifteen, twenty dollar toll every time they needed to use their highway,” said Coons. “Yet, people in island communities are getting slammed with non stop fare increases; this protest is proof that they are tired of being treated like second class citizens.”
Fares on the Quadra Island to Campbell River route are projected to have increased more than 120 per cent from 2003 to 2011. Fares already increased 75 per cent between 2003 and 2007, driving up the cost of food on the island, and making it increasingly difficult for small communities to keep their character.
“These constant fare increases drive people off the islands, until no one is left except cottagers,” said Coons, “Our historic, vibrant island communities are a vital part of the culture of B.C. and they are in danger of being lost. I think that it is a real shame, that the 150th anniversary of this province would be marked by the steady decline of some our most unique communities.”
Early in the Spring Session Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon responded to questions about ferry fare increases with dismissal, saying ‘boo hoo’ when it was suggested that higher fares were hurting families in ferry dependent communities.
“I think that ‘boo hoo’ was the most honest answer I’ve ever heard from this government,” noted Coons. “It’s clear from the way the Campbell Liberals consistently dismiss the concerns of anyone outside the vote-rich lower mainland that they don’t care about the challenges facing British Columbia’s other communities.”
“I hope the government, seeing this protest, will finally listen to the people of Quadra Island and other communities up and down the coast who are calling for a moratorium on ferry fare increases and a review of the coastal ferry act,” said Coons. “It is time for the province to recognize the importance of our marine highways.”