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Post by DENelson83 on Apr 10, 2013 21:55:48 GMT -8
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Post by dofd on Apr 10, 2013 22:39:58 GMT -8
Brian Lewis is a retired Province columnist and vacations on Saturna Island
Read more: www.theprovince.com/news/Liberals+ducking+Ferries/8220578/story.html#ixzz2Q8L0uVJn
When the election weeks come and the thousands of false promises will be made about taxes, transit (ferries), environment and you get the picture (everything else). It is not ‘what can I do for you’, more ‘what can we promise, then change our minds because it just not work for us’
The best way to get better service is: reduce government waste and/or raise taxes<o:p></o:p>
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Post by Mike C on Apr 11, 2013 11:45:29 GMT -8
Good editorial that I think sums up our current predicament really well. I do agree with most on this forum that transportation services in this province, in general, will be more stable once the Liberals kick the can. That being said, this issue has been sadly ignored, and requires math skills and common sense (which are scary concepts for politicians of any ideology). Here's it is, so you don't have to hit the link: [/font][/p]
Read more: www.theprovince.com/news/Liberals+ducking+Ferries/8220578/story.html#ixzz2QBa1ZezX
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on Apr 11, 2013 12:21:15 GMT -8
Good editorial that I think sums up our current predicament really well. I do agree with most on this forum that transportation services in this province, in general, will be more stable once the Liberals kick the can. That being said, this issue has been sadly ignored, and requires math skills and common sense (which are scary concepts for politicians of any ideology). I agree... the article quoted above is really worthwhile. The one aspect that I quarrel with is that the NDP can't really be expected to make definitive statements about where they're going with BC Ferries when they don't know the true state of the province's finances. Brian Lewis makes points that a number of us have made before about the comparative return from the farebox between transit and ferries, the effect of fares on local economies, the efficiency of BC Ferries compared to other systems, the nonsense of privatization... on and on. He could also have mentioned the canard about islanders all being selfish rich people. Some of these arguments might seem repetitive, but until they're understood by the public in general and acted on by the powers that be, they bear repeating.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 11, 2013 19:37:19 GMT -8
This editorial from last December in the Victoria Times-Colonist is worth revisiting on the subject of where we are headed with coastal marine transportation in BC. The last 10 years has been rather much of a 'gong-show'. Note: originally posted on page 2 of the thread: BC Ferries public consultation: Fall 2012
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Apr 11, 2013 20:17:12 GMT -8
Good editorial that I think sums up our current predicament really well. I do agree with most on this forum that transportation services in this province, in general, will be more stable once the Liberals kick the can. That being said, this issue has been sadly ignored, and requires math skills and common sense (which are scary concepts for politicians of any ideology). Here's it is, so you don't have to hit the link: [/font][/p]
Read more: www.theprovince.com/news/Liberals+ducking+Ferries/8220578/story.html#ixzz2QBa1ZezX
[/quote] Yet? I think it will come out during the election campaign because it will help people choose the new government.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Apr 11, 2013 20:46:44 GMT -8
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Apr 12, 2013 12:14:45 GMT -8
:)with regard to BC ferries masking itself as a private co., the chickens have come in to roost, and whoever comes out as gov't in the coming days will have to address this reality! mrdot.
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Post by DENelson83 on Apr 13, 2013 16:33:04 GMT -8
:)with regard to BC ferries masking itself as a private co., the chickens have come in to roost, and whoever comes out as gov't in the coming days will have to address this reality! mrdot. Because if the next government doesn't, it'll end up on the business end of a *huge* stink.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 15, 2013 18:14:56 GMT -8
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Post by Dane on Apr 15, 2013 18:25:30 GMT -8
I listened to that report today as well. Very interesting to listen too, and well worth the time for those that may not normally listen to radio/mp3.
A moderation suggestion - I think this link from Jim would be a great kick off to a BC Ferries - Election 2013 post?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 15, 2013 18:53:58 GMT -8
Dane made a great suggestion for a new thread.
- I've moved some "general news" posts from recent weeks to this new thread.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2013 21:28:52 GMT -8
I listened to Gordon Wilson and the Mayor of Powell river discussing the report this morning on CBC and support the points made. It is time for some serious consideration to be given to areas outside the Lower Mainland and especially to ferry dependent communities.
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Post by compdude787 on Apr 16, 2013 11:47:19 GMT -8
I'm surprised that even the NDP isn't talking about BCFerries, either. They are passing up on a great chance to win over a lot of voters to their side.
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Neil
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Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on Apr 16, 2013 12:40:08 GMT -8
I'm surprised that even the NDP isn't talking about BCFerries, either. They are passing up on a great chance to win over a lot of voters to their side. Adrian Dix has made it pretty clear that he doesn't expect provincial coffers to provide everything on the wish list of some of the NDP's traditional supporters, and I don't think he's about to go making rash promises of a bright new day for ferry dependent communities. Hopefully there will be at least modest relief for coastal customers who've been battered by years of increases... but don't bet the farm.
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Post by DENelson83 on Apr 16, 2013 19:52:31 GMT -8
I'm surprised that even the NDP isn't talking about BCFerries, either. They are passing up on a great chance to win over a lot of voters to their side. Adrian Dix has made it pretty clear that he doesn't expect provincial coffers to provide everything on the wish list of some of the NDP's traditional supporters, and I don't think he's about to go making rash promises of a bright new day for ferry dependent communities. Hopefully there will be at least modest relief for coastal customers who've been battered by years of increases... but don't bet the farm. Fine, let the Province of Vancouver Island form on Dix's watch. As far as I'm concerned, it's "lower ferry fares or GTFO".
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 16, 2013 20:20:43 GMT -8
Adrian Dix has made it pretty clear that he doesn't expect provincial coffers to provide everything on the wish list of some of the NDP's traditional supporters, and I don't think he's about to go making rash promises of a bright new day for ferry dependent communities. Hopefully there will be at least modest relief for coastal customers who've been battered by years of increases... but don't bet the farm. Fine, let the Province of Vancouver Island form on Dix's watch. As far as I'm concerned, it's "lower ferry fares or GTFO". Over the last 12 years the government of BC has spent a huge amount of money on transportation infrastructure. The vast majority of it has been spent in & around the Lower Mainland on road projects (such as the 10 lane bridge at Port Mann, and the Whistler highway) and the Canada Line transit project. Very little has been spent that benefits the 50% of BC's population that doesn't live in the Lower Mainland. Vancouver Island (and the rest of the coast beyond Vancouver) has been very much neglected, both with policy toward the 'marine highways', and other issues such as highway 1 (the Trans-Canada) between Victoria & Nanaimo (& especially the Malahat section). The current government should be answering for their neglect of transportation needs on Vancouver Island.
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Post by compdude787 on Apr 16, 2013 20:37:40 GMT -8
Fine, let the Province of Vancouver Island form on Dix's watch. As far as I'm concerned, it's "lower ferry fares or GTFO". Over the last 12 years the government of BC has spent a huge amount of money on transportation infrastructure. The vast majority of it has been spent in & around the Lower Mainland on road projects (such as the 10 lane bridge at Port Mann, and the Whistler highway) and the Canada Line transit project. Very little has been spent that benefits the 50% of BC's population that doesn't live in the Lower Mainland. Vancouver Island (and the rest of the coast beyond Vancouver) has been very much neglected, both with policy toward the 'marine highways', and other issues such as highway 1 (the Trans-Canada) between Victoria & Nanaimo (& especially the Malahat section). The current government should be answering for their neglect of transportation needs on Vancouver Island. Doesn't that seem weird that Vancouver Island's transportation system, and particularly that of Victoria, is being neglected, even though Victoria is the capital of British Columbia?
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Post by compdude787 on Apr 16, 2013 20:41:47 GMT -8
But if people here want to bring ferry issues to the forefront the best option is to go to your local candidate. That's absolutely true! The local candidates are going to be the ones that really represent each community and their interests. I don't live in BC, but this is definitely true in Washington. I bet you'll all be glad once the election is over to be able to turn on the TV and not be bombarded by a bunch of campaign ads!
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 16, 2013 20:57:22 GMT -8
Doesn't that seem weird that Vancouver Island's transportation system, and particularly that of Victoria, is being neglected, even though Victoria is the capital of British Columbia? No, not at all. Vancouver Island's current elected MLA's (Members of the Legislative Assembly) are predominantly from the NDP (the opposition party). It is as if the BC 'Liberals' (actually they are Conservatives) have been punishing areas of BC that have not been 'wise enough' to elect BC Liberal MLA's.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 16, 2013 22:05:41 GMT -8
I remember as a little kid growing up in the 90's on the east side of Vancouver Island, back in the day when the NDP was in power with Glen Clark (I know that some of the older folks are shaking their heads at me right now while I say this). Looking back, one would think that the economy was strong on Vancouver Island. There were huge projects underway, such as the Nanaimo bypass, and the inland Island Highway leading all of the way up to Campbell River. Additionally the highway was upgraded immensely from Nanaimo all of the way to Mill Bay. I can remember when parts of the highway to Nanaimo from Ladysmith was a two laned highway. It wasn't that long ago. Lets not forget the construction of Duke Point Terminal, and of course the Fast Cat Ferries and the excitement that lead up to all of that. It's amazing to think of the investment that was done even in that timeframe, let alone just in the past 50 years on Vancouver Island.
For the longest time I was lead to believe the NDP were killing the province. Little did I know how much the Liberals were actually killing the province. I was raised in the public school system, and I remember experiencing the cuts first hand. I remember witnessing three different teacher strike scenarios between when I was 11 years old and 17, all of which when the Liberals were in power. Class sizes were increasing, and teachers were forced to rely on students to bring a sufficient amount of note paper to capture the lesson material being presented. If anything ever was handed out, it would usually be printed out on newspaper like material and very much a pain to try and keep organized with a three ring binder. It's things like that which still bother me to this day, since we should be at a point in time where none of that should ever be an issue with the amount of tax money all of us contribute. But this topic isn't about the education workforce.
I live in the Gulf Islands, Salt Spring Island to be more specific which is the most populated of all the Gulf Islands. Salt Spring has a population of about 11,000 people year round, and it's serviced by three different ferry routes. A round trip on the ferry to Vancouver Island from Salt Spring is about 45 dollars, car and driver. This isn't cheap if you use the ferry more than once a week, and while more and more business's are being forced to close because it's no longer sustainable for them to continue operating. Just within the past year, even a the big franchise, Marks Work Wearhouse pulled the plug despite having a huge renovation/addition at their existing location. Moby's pub, pretty much the only place for people of all age groups older than 19, to go for a pint and live music on the weekend pulled the plug as well just last week, leaving just one really small bar, "The Local" bar to be exact which is about the size of my living room. All of that, plus another 4 restaurants had to close, yet the population is remaining fairly steady. So what's happening? It's becomming harder and harder for someone to find work around here with more and more businesses closing. Meanwhile, when I take the ferry to Crofton, I can pretty much guarantee seeing a huge ship at the dock in Crofton, taking on our Raw Logs for export to Asia. "BC Jobs Plan"?
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Post by Mike C on Apr 16, 2013 23:06:13 GMT -8
Fine, let the Province of Vancouver Island form on Dix's watch. As far as I'm concerned, it's "lower ferry fares or GTFO". Over the last 12 years the government of BC has spent a huge amount of money on transportation infrastructure. The vast majority of it has been spent in & around the Lower Mainland on road projects (such as the 10 lane bridge at Port Mann, and the Whistler highway) and the Canada Line transit project. Very little has been spent that benefits the 50% of BC's population that doesn't live in the Lower Mainland. Vancouver Island (and the rest of the coast beyond Vancouver) has been very much neglected, both with policy toward the 'marine highways', and other issues such as highway 1 (the Trans-Canada) between Victoria & Nanaimo (& especially the Malahat section). The current government should be answering for their neglect of transportation needs on Vancouver Island. I am going to, very quickly, defend the infrastructure spending in Metro Vancouver, as a Metro resident. Before any of the projects you mentioned, the last large infrastructure upgrade took place in 1985, as the completion of the Alex Fraser Bridge. Besides the Millennium Line (which, at the time of construction, was a nearly useless piece of infrastructure, due to the sheer nature of it's execution, on part of Glen Clarke), Metro saw very little investment. Meanwhile, Vancouver Island received a new freeway, Nanaimo bypass, and four new ferries (three of which were deemed unfit for service and subsequently sold off, in what was probably the biggest boondoggle in BC Ferries history). The last investments we saw on Vancouver Island took place in 2006, with the construction of three new major ferries. We still have a major highway bridge, built in 1937, with lane widths 60 cm below the provincial standard. We still have the busiest bus route in North America, with ridership numbers that exceed the Canada and Millennium Lines. We still have the highest traffic fatality rates in the province. The investments in Metro cannot end here, I'm afraid. Disclaimer so I don't get thrown to the wolves: I don't support the Liberals. I also think that southern Vancouver Island's infrastructure sucks (including the now non-existent passenger rail service), along with a lot of other infrastructure here in Metro, including the items I just mentioned, and most other highways in the province.
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Post by DENelson83 on Apr 17, 2013 2:07:45 GMT -8
I am going to, very quickly, defend the infrastructure spending in Metro Vancouver, as a Metro resident. Before any of the projects you mentioned, the last large infrastructure upgrade took place in 1985, as the completion of the Alex Fraser Bridge. Besides the Millennium Line (which, at the time of construction, was a nearly useless piece of infrastructure, due to the sheer nature of it's execution, on part of Glen Clarke), Metro saw very little investment. Meanwhile, Vancouver Island received a new freeway, Nanaimo bypass, and four new ferries (three of which were deemed unfit for service and subsequently sold off, in what was probably the biggest boondoggle in BC Ferries history). The last investments we saw on Vancouver Island took place in 2006, with the construction of three new major ferries. We still have a major highway bridge, built in 1937, with lane widths 60 cm below the provincial standard. We still have the busiest bus route in North America, with ridership numbers that exceed the Canada and Millennium Lines. We still have the highest traffic fatality rates in the province. The investments in Metro cannot end here, I'm afraid. Disclaimer so I don't get thrown to the wolves: I don't support the Liberals. I also think that southern Vancouver Island's infrastructure sucks (including the now non-existent passenger rail service), along with a lot of other infrastructure here in Metro, including the items I just mentioned, and most other highways in the province. Well that is all well and good for you on the Mainland, but ever since BCF was "privatized", the ever-rising cost to take a ferry across the Strait has had the same effect as if you had built a friggin' brick wall around the Islands. It is choking off our economy and our way of life. If no major party wants to take the initiative to address this, I simply won't vote.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 17, 2013 14:08:50 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 17, 2013 14:11:56 GMT -8
NDP ferries promises, per an April 17 2013 Victoria Times-Colonist story.
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