Editor:
I love reading the letters to the editor about Coasters getting so angry at BC Ferries. As if it’s ever going to do anything. Any other nationality in the world that was abused this badly by a Crown corporation would have rioted by now. Or at least held protests. Britain has rioted over the cost of tube (subway) fares and all us Canadians do is write toothless angry letters.
I suppose it shouldn’t be too surprising since the whole country seems pretty toothless, including its politicians, these days. Nicholas Simons’ biggest concern is that he can’t get The Beachcombers on TV while you sit there and wait for a one or two sailing delay. And although you keep voting him in, clearly his government isn’t the smartest, since they’re the ones that consider a bridge to only last 25 years in the supposed cost-effective study versus the ferries. What kind of papier-mâché bridge are they building? If the Lions Gate Bridge only lasted 25 years it would have had to have been replaced three times by now.
Everybody knows all it would take is to schedule hourly sailings to solve the problem. That was proven not long ago and ran quite efficiently. Without any upgrades to the Langdale or Horseshoe Bay ferry terminals. So they lie to you and tell you they need to make upgrades before you can have hourly sailings. They just received a big enough federal grant to buy a few new ferries, and you just sit there and take it.
Whether you realize that or not, me stating it is likely going to do nothing. So go ahead and write your angry letters because they do amuse me. But if you really want to do something about it, get out of your writing desks, get into your car, organize your friends and on the next long weekend block off the terminal and hold a proper protest. Nothing else is going to get BC Ferries’ attention and Nicholas Simons away from his Beachcombers. Listen to some Bob Marley and stand up for your rights. Maybe if I tell you they’re building a pipeline from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay?
Thank you for sailing with BC Ferries. We look forward to bleeding you again soon.
Erik Popivich, Gambier Island
