The Islands Trust Council has asked the province to roll back fares on all BC Ferries minor routes by 25 per cent.
“Ferry-dependent communities are struggling under the weight of ferry fares that have increased at a pace well above the rate of inflation,” Islands Trust council chair Peter Luckham said in a news release.
“We have a constructive proposal. By strategically investing an additional $11 to $14 million annually, the province can lower fares on BC Ferries’ minor routes by 25 per cent,” Luckham said. “Affordable fares would attract more customers into the ferry system, bolster B.C.’s economy and result in increased provincial tax revenues – a win-win for everyone.”
In May, ferry advisory committee chairs called for a 20 to 25 per cent rollback effective April 2016 on minor and northern routes and Route 3 between Langdale and Horseshoe Bay, which is designated as a major route.
The Southern Sunshine Coast ferry advisory committee (FAC) is in agreement about the disproportionate rate of inflation and is asking the province for more research into the impact of fare increases on ferry dependent communities.
“Fares have escalated since 2003 far faster than the rate of inflation. High fares are causing concerns in communities,” FAC chair Barry Cavens said. “Fare increases in those years were done without any research, either before or after, on the impact of those fare increases.”
According to Cavens, the cost per nautical mile on Route 3 is alarmingly out of sync with routes between the mainland and Vancouver Island.
“Our cost per nautical mile for commercial fares – for trucks, which bring all of our goods and services – was 34.3 cents per nautical mile,” Cavens said. “Whereas the average rate on the vessels going from the mainland to Vancouver Island is about 19.9 cents per nautical mile.”
A report by BC Ferries released June 19 found that fares paid by passengers increased from about $489 million to almost $520 million in the last fiscal year. Meanwhile, the subsidy from the province to BC Ferries has gone down from about $180 million to under $176 million.
“What’s happening is the passengers are putting in more of a percentage, and the province is putting in less,” Cavens said. “Therefore fares are continuing to escalate.”
In 2001, the BC government released a statement saying that fares would be based on distance beginning the following year.
“But there have been no steps taken in trying to do that, in trying to rationalize the fares,” Cavens said. “Our fares were higher when we started out, and our fares increased at a higher rate than the major routes going to Vancouver Island. The disparity has increased.”
Media relations officer for BC Ferries, Deborah Marshall, said the balance of fares versus government subsidies is an issue to be taken up with the province.
“We have a contract with the province to provide this service,” Marshall said. “So it is up to the province to set our service levels and the service fees that they pay BC Ferries.”
BC Ferries, meanwhile, has added the Queen of Coquitlam to Route 3 as well as additional sailings Mondays through Thursdays over the summer.
