NDP ferries critic Gary Coons says it is appalling that the Campbell government is imposing another whopping fare increase on B.C. ferries the same week the government’s own ferry advisory committees strongly recommended against such a move.
“On Monday, the 12 ferry advisory committees sent a report to the Campbell government warning about the dire consequences of this government’s record-breaking increases to ferry fares,” said Coons. “Yesterday the Campbell government went ahead with ferry fuel surcharges as high as 17.6 per cent on some runs.
“Instead of listening to the advisory committees and stopping the fare increase, this arrogant government is making the problem worse with an unfair and ineffective gas tax.”
Adding insult to injury, Gordon Campbell’s Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon said today, “I think one of the things that we may have to look at is service levels,” when responding to questions about skyrocketting fares and an inevitable drop in ridership.”
Ferry fares will increase on August 1, with a fuel surcharge on 18 minor routes of 17.6 per cent. Three major routes will face a fuel surcharge of 10.3 per cent while the Horseshoe-Bay-Langdale route will have a 9.2 per cent surcharge.
Earlier this week, the ferry advisory committees reported that, “Surging ferry fares could threaten the viability of BC Ferries’ whole system and cause substantial economic and social trauma to coastal communities.”
“The Campbell government is ignoring the warnings from coastal communities,” said Coons. “Campbell is just plowing ahead with his own agenda no matter what the cost to families and businesses who live in ferry dependent communities.”
Note:
This baseline adjustment applies only to the three route groups for which BC Ferries has requested authorization. The baseline for the northern route group is unchanged.