Editor:
What's wrong with our ferry service?
It no longer gives service to the parties it was intended to. It is a luxury cruise catering to the holiday visitor with large dining areas, great shopping - clothes, books, jewelry. Who needs this on a 40-minute run? One has hardly time to vacate the car, climb two or three stairways, find seats and use the facilities before the announcement of "return to your vehicles in preparation for departure."
I have news for you - it is the residents of B.C. who use the ferry more often than the visitors.
The result of higher fares means fewer trips because of costs - no day trips to the big city, fewer trips by family and friends. We have luxury liners with fewer passengers and increased fares to pay for the costs of the operation.
Why, oh why, can we not realize good service, lower costs, less luxury facilities might just put us in the position of operating a safer, efficient, cost-effective service for the people it was intended for?
What is the standing of the officials we, the people, elected, on this issue? Surely the economics of our industries, employment for the young people and well-being of the elderly must count for something? With the rise of ferry rates, food, clothing, etc. all rise as well due to transportation increases.
It's about time our elected officials stood up to be counted on this issue. Why should we, the public, be continually penalized by a company unable to provide a transportation service to our communities dependent on safe, dependable, responsible and reasonable costs - not yearly increases in fares?
If the present company is unable to provide a service to the communities of B.C. dependent on ferry service, let them get out of the transportation service and get into the luxury cruise business and let us have a very necessary transportation system in order to survive in our communities.
L. Ansell,?Sechelt
