Local ferry advisory councils (FAC) have been invited to give their input into B.C. Ferries' new term of service set to start in April of next year. Limiting fare increases is at the top of the agenda.
FACs made requests to Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon to have some influence in the contract between B.C. Ferries and the province, noting they were not consulted during the last four-year term of service.
"The request was made by the Ferry Advisory Committee chairs based on concerns about fare increases of 30 per cent to 65 per cent already implemented since the new ferry system took effect," a news release stated.
On the Sunshine Coast, fare increases during the past four years amounted to about a 36 per cent increase overall."On our route we went up 4.4 per cent annually for capital costs and 18.6 per cent for the fuel surcharge," said Jakob Knaus, who will attend service talks with B.C. Ferries and the province on behalf of the Sunshine Coast FAC.
That increase was felt even more strongly on the island routes with passengers on the Bowen Island ferry paying about 55 per cent more during the last term of service.
"If the pattern were to continue it could spiral out of control," Bowen Island FAC member Terry Cotter said.
Both Cotter and Knaus maintain that ferries to the Coast are a necessity and should be considered an extension of the province's highway network.
"Our main argument is that this is our roadway and there is a lot of money being spent by the province on roadways. The Island Highway just had $2 billion spent on it and almost $1 billion is being spent on the Sea to Sky Highway," Knaus said.
B.C. Ferries transformed from a Crown corporation into an independent, commercial organization in April 2003. They were then contracted by the province to provide service to coastal communities under a four-year term of service. That term is nearing an end and talks to shape the new term are about to take place.
"If the government is not willing to invest more money into the ferry system, then the costs will go to the users again," Knaus said, noting more money is needed for capital improvements and the cost of gasoline will likely only rise in years to come.
"We have an uphill battle on our hands."
FACs are hopeful their concerns will be addressed in the new term of service. They are now waiting to see what the ferry commissioner sets as fare caps for B.C. Ferries during the next four years. The commissioner has the task of regulating fares and service levels for B.C. Ferries, however, the ferry corporation can apply to have extra fare increases approved, as has been the case with fuel surcharges in the past. The commissioner will issue a report on fare caps today, (March 30)."Once that report is out we will be able to see what we're dealing with," Knaus said, noting talks with the province and B.C. Ferries will start after the report is published.
The next date of importance is June 30 when the province will decide if it wants to modify the coastal ferry services contract to change provincial contributions for the new term and make possible changes to service levels.
In September the commissioner will review any changes to provincial contributions and service levels and issue the fare caps. The caps will be in effect from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2012.
