Through 2028, the B.C. NDP wants to keep the average annual increase in ticket prices below 3%.
To avoid fare increases over the next four years due to inflation and rising fuel prices, the B.C. government has announced an additional $500 million in funding for B.C. Ferries.
According to Premier David Eby, the province decided to intervene after recent comments to the B.C. Ferries Commissioner indicated that due to the effects of global inflation over the previous 18 months, it would be necessary to hike fares by more than 10% in each of the following four years.
Although the ultimate cost will be decided by the corporation’s commissioner, the province expects the increased money will keep the annual rise in boat tickets below 3%.
People utilize B.C. Ferries every day to travel to work, see family, and visit friends, according to Eby.
“Predictable and inexpensive service is essential to all of us.”
According to Eby, the “marine highway system” in the province is essential to B.C. transportation, and a significant increase in fares would place an undue amount of strain on families and small companies.
In addition, he said, it would result in higher delivery costs for companies and contractors in British Columbia, which would ultimately be passed on to customers.
The funding announcement came a day after Eby unveiled a new round of the B.C. Affordability Credit, which he claimed would also aid in reducing the effects of inflation as he approached his 100th day in charge of the province.
B.C. Ferries interim president Jill Sharland said in a statement that the company was appreciative of the government’s cooperation and comprehension of the difficulty of managing one of the biggest ferry systems in the world.
The traveler and our commercial customers will still be able to afford the fares thanks to the province’s sizeable contribution, she added. It also supports essential service improvements and infrastructure developments.
Speaking in Esquimalt on Vancouver Island, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming emphasized that three-quarters of British Columbia’s population lives along the coast and relies on ferries for daily travel, commodities, and services, as well as to get to medical appointments.
According to Fleming, the ferry corporation would modify its fleet using some of the extra funding.
According to him, “we will lower the company’s fuel costs over time and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province, defending the interests of ferry-dependent communities and all ferry passengers in British Columbia.” He also argued in favor of electrifying B.C. Ferries.
According to Fleming, there are presently six hybrid ships operating on the water, although they are not yet primarily using battery power. During the epidemic, he claimed, B.C. Ferries had to shift money away from electrification; nevertheless, the ferry company and the province will now collaborate to construct shore power charging infrastructure to hasten the transition.
Fleming continued, “There are clean energy employment associated with electrifying our ferry fleet in British Columbia,” pointing out that the battery technology used in the hybrid ships were created in Richmond.
The final price rise for the following four years will be announced by September 30 after the B.C. Ferries commissioner determines a preliminary increase in annual rates by March 31.
