Town of Osoyoos council will send a letter of Premier Christy Clark asking that she meet with representatives of a regional board worried about service cuts and fare increases within the BC Ferries service.

Council doesn’t want the letter sent until after its next meeting of council on March 17 so they can further investigate the request by the Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District (SQCRD) and ensure the wording of the letter isn’t overtly political and simply deals with asking the premier to recognize the importance of the ferry service and tourism to this province.

Coun. Sue McKortoff said she wouldn’t feel comfortable “taking sides” by wholeheartedly endorsing the request by the SQCRD, however, she has no problem with sending a letter to Clark’s office that clearly indicates Osoyoos council’s concerns with ferry service cuts and dramatic fare increases.

The SQCRD has sent letters to municipalities across the province asking for their support in denouncing B.C. Ferries service cuts and fare increases.

“The board is undivided in its concern over the rising costs and the proposed reduction in ferry services to coastal communities,” wrote SQCRD board chair Barry Pages in his letter to council.

“In many of our communities, affordable ferry service is as necessary as the highway systems to the remainder of B.C. As a vital transportation link throughout the province, B.C. Ferries has a significant influence on both our local and provincial economies and is integral to the daily functioning of many of our residents and businesses.”

The B.C. Ferry Coalition, an ad hoc steering committee of allied residents from coastal communities across the province, has already completed a mass rally in opposition to the cuts and is encouraging all coastal residents to write letters to the premier describing how the proposed service cuts and higher fares will affect their families and communities, said Pages.

“For instance, many hotels across the province have already shown concern over the sustainability of their businesses, as they are seeing an unprecedented amount of booking cancellations brought on by the B.C. Ferries service cuts,” he said. “The coalition is gaining support from an array of coastal residents, as well as local governments, private industry and businesses, chambers of commerce and other stakeholders.

“The SQCRD board strongly supports the B.C. Ferry Coalition and its continued efforts in opposing the recent service cuts and fare increases.”

The SQCRD has been unsuccessful in arranging a meeting with Clark to voice its concerns and the myriad of problems surrounding this issue, said Pages.

Mayor Stu Wells said he supports sending a letter to the premier because as the mayor of a resort community he’s worried about the current Liberal government’s perceived lack of commitment to supporting the tourism industry in this province.

The province does support some quality programs that benefit Osoyoos and he doesn’t “want to bite the hand that feeds you”, but sending a letter asking the premier to recognize the service cuts and fare increases are harming these coastal communities won’t hurt and will send a clear message this is an important issue, said Wells.

Coun. C. J. Rhodes said the west coast of B.C. is “among the most strikingly beautiful places on the face of the Earth” and these communities should be easily accessible to citizens of this province and tourists from around the world.

However, the fare increases and service cuts by B.C. Ferries “has stifled” many B.C. residents and tourists from accessing this part of the province, he said.

Many people won’t consider travelling by ferry any longer because of the huge costs and drastic fare increases that have been allowed to take place over the past several years, said Rhodes.

“I think it has to be corrected in its entirety,” he said.

Coun. Michael Ryan said there’s no doubt the ferry system provides a critical cog in this province’s transportation system as so many communities are separated by water and it’s crucial these services be affordable and accessible.

Members of staff will prepare a carefully worded motion to Clark before council officially votes to send the letter to the premier at its next meeting on March 17.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times