General News · 16th September 2007
Fred Morris
CAMPBELL RIVER - A potential 25 percent fare increase over five years for BC Ferries’ northern and isolated routes has some passengers in a huff.
Many aboard the Powell River Queen Friday afternoon bound for Quadra Island from Campbell River say fares are already too high. Business owners on Quadra are worried about business dropping off if tourists decide not to make the trip over due to the cost of the ferry.
Others, like Stanley Oliver who lives on Cortes Island, feel there should be no charge at all to ride the ferry, since they say it is an essential service. Oliver points to freshwater ferries in the BC Interior that he says are free of charge.
When BC Ferries first announced their plan to increase fares in June, many who live in northern and remote areas of Vancouver Island were hoping public pressure would force a change of plans. But that looks like it won’t happen. The corporation is still pushing for their independent Commissioner to approve their plan at the end of the month.
Free Interior Ferries
Comment by Brigid Weiler on 18th September 2007
Interior ferrys are all free.
I have lived in Kootenay Bay off and on for years, there is ferry service every 1 1/2 hours, and every 45 minutes in the summer, til maybe 9 pm (it used to be later) its a 40 minute ride, and they got a new ferry a few years ago, too.
If you live in Proctor, you have on-demand free ferry service on a 24 hour basis.
And so on.
The ferrys are considered to be a part of the highways.
News Report
Comment by Stan Oliver on 16th September 2007
This artical was found on the web site of AChannel Victoria. I was on the Powell River Queen and was asked to comment on the fare hike, to which I had heard nothing about. The story aired on AChannel news at 5 p.m. & 11 p.m. Friday, Sept 14th 2007