Gary Coons

VICTORIA – The B.C. Liberals are undermining the coastal ferries system by hiking fares before acting on the independent review of B.C. Ferries, say the New Democrats.
“While British Columbians continue to wait for the B.C. Liberals to live up to their promise of acting on the independent review, residents up and down the coast are [...]

Ferry passengers will pay more to ride on April 1 — a fare increase expected to generate $21 million for the mothership B.C. Ferries corporation.
Ferry commissioner Martin Crilly approved an increase in price caps for both major and minor B.C. Ferries routes on Friday.

Ferry fares will likely rise again April 1 after ferry commissioner Martin Crilly today approved price cap increases on all 25 of British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.’s regulated routes.
The commissioner approved a 2.68 percent increase on the three major routes between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland and a 5.68 percent jump on all other [...]

VICTORIA—The B.C. Liberals have failed to provide an economic vision for British Columbia beyond the 2010 Olympic Games, says New Democrat Leader Carole James.
“Today B.C. is facing significant challenges, including heavy job losses, persistent child poverty rates and an extended recession in which families are struggling to make ends meet. Not only did the Liberals [...]

VICTORIA — An arbitrator’s ruling has found the B.C. Liberals’ failure to invest in public education has left children struggling to learn in overcrowded classrooms across the province, say New Democrats.

VICTORIA – A report released this week by the Government of Manitoba confirms that the HST is a bad tax that will hurt consumers, say the New Democrats.
“This report confirms what the B.C. Liberals continue to deny,” said North Coast MLA Gary Coons. “The HST will hurt consumers in provinces that implement it.”

Transportation Minister Shirley Bond still won’t commit to improved transparency at B.C. Ferries despite a report criticizing the company’s executive pay packages and lack of accountability.
Under questioning in the legislature yesterday, Bond would only say that government will consider each of the comptroller general’s recommendations — including that B.C. Ferries be subject to Freedom of [...]

For Immediate Release
VICTORIA—North Coast MLA Gary Coons is concerned that the ‘proposed’ BC Ferries new service from Tsawwassen to Prince Rupert will have a huge impact on jobs and the economy in Prince Rupert and the entire region.

For Immediate Release
VICTORIA – An independent report released Friday has found that since the Liberals privatized B.C. Ferries, the corporation has lost accountability, costs have increased, and executive pay has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, the New Democrats said today.
“This report clearly spells out what New Democrats have been saying all along,” said New Democrat deputy [...]

RURAL TOURISM HIT HARD
VICTORIA – “The B.C. Liberals’ HST betrayal could mean 10,000 tourism jobs lost and up to $545 million in revenue lost,” said New Democrat tourism critic Spencer Herbert.‪