Petitions against increasing ferry fares delivered in Victoria

North Coast MLA Gary Coons has presented a petition from the Queen Charlotte Islands with almost 1,000 names expressing their concern over the rising speed of ferry rate increases and calling for a freeze on them.

It followed similar petitions from residents of Quadra and Salt Spring Islands, who also are concerned with BC Ferries lack of attention to their concerns and requests.

The Daily News provided some background on the petitions in Friday’s paper.

Ferry users hope to change tide
Ferry dependent towns want the government to reduce rising ticket cost
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, March 07, 2008
Page one

North Coast MLA Gary Coons took the concerns of people who rely on BC Ferries into the legislature earlier this week, presenting a petition with close to 1,000 names on it from Queen Charlotte Island residents who want a freeze on ferry fares.

"The fact that so many of the electorate wants a moratorium on ferry fare increases shows how dissatisfied people are with the present regime," said Coons.

"Fares are sky-rocketing for what is part of our highway system. My constituents are facing real difficulties by this government's arrogant approach to our ferries. Continued fare increases are killing our coastal communities."

Earlier in the day, a petition from residents of Salt Spring Island was tabled, and yesterday, a similar petition from Quadra Island was presented.

"The Minister of Transportation will have to be showing incredible arrogance if he chooses to ignore the thousands of voices who want our ferries to be treated as part of our marine highway which they have been for years," he said.

More than 80 per cent of residents of Quadra Island signed a petition 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.

Fares on the Quadra Island-to-Campbell River route are projected to have increased by 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.

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," said 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."