Courtenay–Alberni MP Gord Johns is raising the alarm about impending ferry fare increases in rallies across Vancouver Island starting Monday, calling for the federal government to provide the same level of funding for B.C. Ferries as it does Atlantic Canada ferries.
The federal government covers 43 per cent of ferry costs on the East Coast and just three per cent in B.C., said the NDP MP, who raised the issue in the House in May.
Courtenay–Alberni MP Gord Johns is sounding the alarm over the possibility of major B.C. Ferries fare increases, and he’s taking that message across Vancouver Island.
According to Gord Johns, MP for Courtenay-Alberni, who is leading the charge to even things up, the feds provide $291 per passenger in Atlantic Canada and just $1.63 per passenger in B.C. No, I did not forget a period in the Atlantic Canada amount.
In terms of total population rather than just ferry riders, that’s $6 per person in B.C. and $125 per person in Atlantic Canada. The federal government is covering 43 per cent of operating costs for the east coast ferry system and just three per cent for BC Ferries.
North Cowichan’s mayor is the latest municipal leader to support a campaign led by a Vancouver Island MP calling for fair and stable federal operational funding for BC Ferries.
Rob Douglas said he wrote to Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson to express council’s support for Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns’ Fair Federal Ferry Funding campaign.