Back in early 2014, when coastal communities were rising up and saying enough is enough with high BC Ferries fares and inadequate sailing schedules, two of the hotbeds of fair-ferries activism were Gabriola Island and the Sunshine Coast.
Coincidentally, the provincial government has generously stepped in to study the feasibility of “fixed links” to both destinations. One has to ask if the whole exercise is not simply aimed at deflating what was becoming an embarrassing grassroots push to recognize BC Ferries as part of the provincial highway system.
Announcing the Sunshine Coast fixed link study last week, the province stressed that the decision was driven by “community interest” in having a highway or bridge connections linking the Coast to the Lower Mainland.
The same rationale was used for the $200,000 Gabriola Island study after a petition with almost 700 names supporting a bridge was presented to government. The only problem was, as the Times Colonist pointed out in an editorial last April, almost 3,400 people later signed a pair of petitions opposing a bridge to the island. Since when is this government interested in catering to a vocal minority?
There are certainly people on the Sunshine Coast who are eager to see a fixed link, and some have even started blogs to promote the idea. One site is advocating for two bridges joined at Anvil Island that would connect the Sea to Sky Highway with West Howe Sound. Each bridge would be about 1.7 kilometres in length. Others suggest a highway, perhaps with tunnels, from Squamish. Costs are unknown but estimated to be in the ballpark of at least $1 billion. On top of the cost, there would be the destruction of areas that are identified in the Squamish Nation’s land use plan as Wild Spirit Places. No one talks about that, once again making us wonder how serious the government is about the whole exercise. Is it simply a placebo to shut up the ferry hostages?
It will be interesting to see the results of the study, but don’t expect to see them soon, based on how long it’s taken for the Gabriola report to be released. In the meantime, let’s not slacken on calling for lower BC Ferries fares and more sailings – especially a late-night run. Those measures could significantly improve the Sunshine Coast’s social and economic life, literally overnight. Not in 30 or 40 years, if ever.
