Mayor Pond pleads the case of Alaska Ferry dock to the province

The importance of the Alaska Ferry dock to the provinces greater tourism and commerce goals was made to the Provincial government last week by Prince Rupert mayor Herb Pond.

The Mayor who happened to be a recent trip to Victoria on behalf of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, made his case for assistance to Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, seeking some financial help for the much needed repairs to the Alaska Ferry. The cost of fixing the transportation link has escalated sharply from the quarter million dollar mark mentioned last year.

According to the mayor, the province was never really aware of the dock’s importance to the big picture financially and is now reported to be very interested in how they can provide assistance to the community. Though at the moment, no details seemed to come out of his one on one with Falcon, about any plans to transfer money into the ferry dock out of provincial coffers.

The Daily News featured the consultation as their front page story in Tuesday’s paper.

POND PUTS THE ALASKA FERRY DOCK ON THE PROVINCE’S RADAR
Victoria fully aware of importance of damaged dock on provincial economy
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Pages one and two

Less than two weeks after it was closed, the importance of Prince Rupert's Alaska Marine Highway System dock has been buoyed onto the province's agenda.

Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond said he was able to have a meeting with Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon during his recent trip to Victoria. Pond was in the capital in his capacity as a director for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

"It was a great meeting. They are very interested in how they might assist the community and understand completely the fact that it's an issue that has province-wide impact," said Pond.
The city operates the ferry dock on behalf of the Alaska Marine Highway System. Prince Rupert is the northern state's only Canadian stop.

However, two weeks ago, the city received an engineering report that recommended closing the facility until close to a million dollars worth of repairs could be made. Currently, AMHS vessels and docking at the B. C. Ferries facility and repairs will hopefully be made by the end of this May, in time for the start of the tourism season.

While the city had budgeted a quarter of a million for repairs this year, it is now expecting the bill to top that and seeking help with the rest of the costs.
“I’m not sure exactly what will come from that meeting but they are looking for ways to be engaged,” said Pond.

He noted that the international dock, with all its associated travel implications, is not an issue that has been brought to the province before in a meaningful way.
“They didn’t completely appreciate the opportunities the exist between ourselves and Alaska,” he said.

“What we have been able to do is secure is a longer-term interest.”

Previously, the northern ferry crossing between the two countries was a matter handled by the province and state, not just Ketchikan and Prince Rupert, as it has been in recent years, he said.
B. C. Ferries and the Alaska Marine Highway System have been working together during the course of the past year to put together new marketing campaign.

Studies that took place the summer following the sinking of the Queen of the North showed that decreased traffic impacted tourism revenues not just in Prince Rupert but all the way along the circle route; including communities such as Smithers, Prince George and south to Vancouver.
In addition, there are future opportunities for northern tourism coming with 2010 Olympic Winter Games when the B. C. Ferry form Port Hardy will offer passage to Prince Rupert and then into Alaska for travelers.

“I am really hoping when we bring the delegates here for southeast conference we can talk about what the Olympics means and the opportunities,” said Pond.

“Anybody who becomes interested in Alaska because of the Olympics becomes interested in Prince Rupert. More than 250 politicians, business owners and labour leaders from Southeast Alaskan communities will be be in Prince Rupert this September to discuss the economic welfare of the region.

The city won the bid to host the 2008 Southeast Conference last year.
Prince Rupert is a founding member of the Southeast Conference, which was formed in 1958 as an association of communities to advocate for the establishment of the Alaska Marine Highway System.

Since its early days, the Southeast Conference has greatly expanded both in terms of its membership based and the scope of its overall mission.