The lobby group BC Ferry Coalition says comments from BC Ferries at a recent Advisory Committee meeting on the Sunshine Coast will set the tone for other communities.
The Company told the FAC it’s done talking about fares or restoring lost sailings.
The Coalition’s Jef Keighley also sits on the Sunshine Coast FAC.
He says it’s a welcome end to a “masquerade”.
“Really what it says is that if communities want to see better service, if communities want to see more equitable fare structures, don’t waste your time talking to BC Ferries,” he says. “Go to the provincial government.”
Keighley says he expects other FACs will get the same message.
But there was little sign of it Monday on Gabriola, when that community’s FAC met.
Interim FAC Chair Steven Earle says Ferries seemed ready to talk about sailings.
“We have to make a business case for re-instating sailings and then take it back to them,” he says. “We don’t know what will come of that, but that’s probably what we’re going to do.”
BC Ferries has 13 Advisory Committees for its minor routes.
