Inland ferry center of Native demonstrations

[Scott]

www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/07/12/bc-lytton.html

This is a developing story. First head of the highway closed around Lytton yesterday. Later I found out it was because the Lytton ferry linking the local First Nations band to Lytton (across the Fraser River). The ferry workers have been staging job action since April ... although the ferry is still operating on essential service levels.

Another tender response from the Minister of Transporation Kevin Falcon on a ferry issue: "Don't be out blockading highways - it's an illegal act." Told them to go complain to the striking workers, not him.

[BrianWilliams]

I'm not sure how many inland ferries are non-gov't operations?

MoT's page says www.th.gov.bc.ca/marine/ferry_schedules.htm "Inland ferries operate under private contract ..."

Not necessarily a bad strategy, but perhaps subject to labour disputes or other problems outside the govt's ability to correct?

I sympathize with the Lytton native people. There's a long, rough road on the west bank north to Lillooet, and a barely-passable route south to North Bend. Otherwise, folks can hike the dangerous, illegal RR bridge.

We have succeeded in linking most BC communities with reliable roads and ferries. We have failed the west side Lytton people.