I concur with Art Skipsey with regards to the way the BC Ferry monopoly continues to grab more and more money out of our pockets for what is supposed to be a basic right, a simple round-trip for a family of four from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay cost now hundreds of dollars.
I add to all the money spent on ineffective ferries, salaries and pensions (David Hahn’s salary probably agreed upon by our government on a sleepy Friday afternoon with most MLAs already on their way home), the $25 million loan to a high risk Victoria developer, and, this just in: a $10 million pledge to Seaspan Shipyard for future repairs. A simple people-carrying ferry system has grown into an over-weighted gorilla with many unnecessary add-on’s paid for by the taxpayer.
Many people have experienced one or more waiting’s in recent busy periods, while the fuel inefficient new “Mercedes” ferries were parked, due to the high cost of spare parts and operation.
I’m totally opposed to pay the bureaukratnic on the top of this heap of canoes the highest salary in B.C. if not Canada, while denying us the services we need.
As our population and already often congested ferry traffic keeps growing, maybe it is time to revisit the tunnel/bridge idea. As a P3 project with no cost to the taxpayer there are several qualified companies in the world able to do the job.
Earlier blueprints are ready to be considered. In return they will have the right to toll money for a set period of time. Successful examples are the the Coquihalla Highway and the PEI Confederation Bridge (toll cost 2 axles $43.25, shuttle $4 pp). People watch the inadequacy of the BC Ferry system and long waits on many routes this coming long weekend.
Pieter de Reuver, Parksville