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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2012 - THE NORTHERN VIEW - PAGE 9
◆ OP-ED
Fifty first dates with Province and Ferries I can’t help feeling as if we’re stuck in a real-life version of the movie 50 First Dates - you know, the Adam Sandler flick about a guy continually having to relive a first date with an amnesiac. And, since I’m on movie metaphors, I’d suggest that we may also be facing a touch of the spin doctoring from Wag the Dog. This Friday we’ll meet with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. We are told that, “The B.C. coastal ferry service has been wrestling with cost pressures for more than 20 years. These cost pressures, if not addressed, could threaten the financial sustainability of the entire system”. And so we are asked to address the immediate challenge of cutting $26 million by 2016, and also discuss which “elements should be pursued to connect coastal communities in an affordable, efficient and sustainable manner in the long-term”. Does this have a familiar sound? During the summer of 2011 the Ferry Commission toured the province to discuss roughly the same thing. They presented themselves as a sympathetic audience, and British Columbians showered them with information – particularly about the skyrocketing fares. In return, we received a 12 per cent hike in fares. I’ll offer no more than a reminder of the 2010, and 2009, discussions with BC Ferries, during which they suggested reducing service to Prince Rupert through their “Route 10A” proposal.
We need to assume that revenues from the businesses Talking tourism our arguments will always be and communities it helps forgotten as soon as they’re sustain. delivered, and we will always 2. Ferry rates are need to begin again with a prohibitive for use of BC seemingly amnesiac audience. Ferries as an essential service There are key points by residents. BC Ferries must that we already know won’t not only be prevented from resonate this time around. making further rate increases, Transportation Minister Mary but must be encouraged to BRUCE WISHART Polak has already publicly reduce rates to encourage brushed aside any suggestion ridership. that lower fares might increase ridership. 3. BC Ferries must not be allowed to The structure of this consultation, throwing reduce service on northern routes. all routes together as equal, also rejects the 4. BC Ferries must build northern understanding that profitable routes were traffic not only through affordable rates, always intended to subsidize less profitable but also through adequate marketing to an routes. And given that the very first round appropriate audience – which has also not of publicity contained the messaging that happened. BC Ferries loses over $2,000 per vehicle on 5. With the economic downturn in Route 10, I suspect that residents are being coastal BC, BC Ferries jobs have helped asked a leading question. sustain employment, and these jobs need to Be that as it may, here are my key talking stay in coastal communities such as Prince points for Friday: Rupert. 1. BC Ferries is an essential service And if these points sound familiar, it is for residents, and a vital component of because it’s the same list, almost word for the northern tourism industry, and should word, that I printed here at the time of the be considered an important part of the August 2011 consultation. provincial highway system. We do not This bizarre time warp really is like 50 support the idea of the northern ferry service First Dates, other than it feels a little more being economically sustainable in and of like war than romantic comedy. We continue itself, and it should be further subsidized to go forth to battle. It’s been demonstrated if necessary. We believe that as a driver for that we can’t win any of these battles, but northern economic development it more if, just once, we fail to turn up at the field than recoups government expense in tax of battle we will have instantly lost the war.
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