Government audit recommends scrapping subsidy program
A recommendation to start charging ferry fares for students to attend school would have a terrible impact on families on coastal communities, say the New Democrats.
“The government’s internal audit (attached) shows just how much Gordon Campbell has lost touch with the needs of coastal communities,” said NDP ferry critic Gary Coons. “The program to ensure students get access to their schools is in chaos, and now we have an internal audit that proposes B.C. Ferries start charging fares to students.”
Coons said the internal audit shows that the B.C. Student Discount Program is in turmoil. The program allows school-aged children to travel at no cost in order to attend school, and provides significant discounts for students who are participating in school-related events. One of the recommendations from the audit is to scrap the program.
“The Campbell government must take action now to ensure this recommendation does not go ahead,” said Coons. “It would be outrageous to allow B.C. Ferries to scrap a program to ensure that students have access to education and education-related activities.”
Coons noted that coastal communities have already been devastated by the skyrocketing ferry fares that have taken place since the Campbell government turned B.C. Ferries into a quasi-private corporation. In some cases, fares have doubled since the privatisation of our ferries, and this increase doesn’t take into account high fuel surcharges which have been added on to the regular ticket price.