FRIDAYOCTOBER 12, 2012
www.pqbnews.com
Official newspaper of the Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals
FINGERSTYLE CHAMPION
FOUNDER LOOKS BACK FONDLY
B1
A36
Award-winning Montreal guitarist plays Errington Hall
QB resident started the Victoria Marathon 35 years ago
MLA REACTS TO FERRY FARE INCREASES
Walk on, rent a car
Cantelon says riders need to look at options NEIL HORNER
news@pqbnews.com
Ron Cantelon isn’t happy about increased ferry rates and cuts to service, and he has some suggestions for riders. The Parksville-Qualicum MLA says the 12 per cent spike in costs over the next three years was inevitable because of ever-rising fuel costs. “It’s not just here, it’s a worldwide phenomenon,” he said. Noting the price of gasoline had jumped to $1.37.9 cents per litre in Nanaimo on Thursday, Cantelon said rising ferry costs shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. “We put in $80 million and we are asking ferries to do their part too,” he said. Cantelon added there is only so much government can do and it may be time for people to start thinking about changing the way they use the service. “We have to look at different options,” he said. “Maybe the idea of a single car going back and forth over 35 miles of water isn’t the way to go. Maybe people are going to look more and more at passenger service and then pick up a rental car on the other side.” Although gasoline prices aren’t expected to come down substantially any time soon, Cantelon said there may be at least some relief on the horizon. “We hope when they put the natural gas on the big ferries that will moderate the costs and hopefully bring the costs down,” he said. See INCREASES, page A4
One driver, three MVAs Same man involved in three crashes Sunday NEIL HORNER
news@pqbnews.com
Police say a pre-existing medical condition appears to the reason behind a man causing three motor vehicle accidents in a span of six hours between Nanaimo and Parksville. The incidents began early Sunday morning and only ended after the 51-year-old driver’s truck was towed. There was damage to four vehicles, including that of the suspect driver, but fortunately no one was injured. The male driver resides in central Vancouver Island. See LICENCE, page A6
NEIL HORNER PHOTO
THE COLOURS OF FALL: Qualicum Beach resident Susan Mahler rakes up some of the fiery-red leaves in front of her house as autumn finally takes hold on Vancouver Island this week.
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