When Mavis Miller and her husband retired to their Mayne Island cabin from Richmond six years ago, they thought the easy ferry ride would make family visits a regular part of their routine.

But the last decade of cost increases have put a stop to that plan.

B次元官网网址淭o get to the Mainland, we pay more than people going from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay,B次元官网网址� she said.

While the Millers often take advantage of free senior travel leaving the island on weekdays, their children and grandchildren donB次元官网网址檛 have the same luxury when visiting.

B次元官网网址淭ourism is also down. WeB次元官网网址檝e had several businesses on the island close,B次元官网网址� she said.

MillerB次元官网网址檚 story isnB次元官网网址檛 unique. All across the Southern Gulf Islands, daily commuters, retired couples and local businesses who rely on affordable access to the outside world are feeling the pinch of an average 80-per-cent rise in fares in less than a decade.

B次元官网网址淐ost-wise, you have to think twice and plan better,B次元官网网址� Miller said.

The increase has been about 10 times the rate of inflation, said Tony Law, Hornby-Denman islands ferry advisory committee chair.

B次元官网网址淚n communities like ours, it affects every aspect of life,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a little bit of a misnomer that the Gulf Islands are populated by rich people, but theyB次元官网网址檙e a minority. Most incomes are below the provincial average. So, itB次元官网网址檚 really affecting the working people and young people a lot.B次元官网网址�

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Many Gulf Islands residents believe the province should be putting up more than the roughly $150-million in subsidies it has been providing, said Harold Swierenga, ferry advisory committee chair for Salt Spring Island.

The province did announce an additional $79.5 million to be doled out over the next five years, but it isnB次元官网网址檛 enough to freeze fares at their current levels.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of attitude on the coast that the ferries should be priced on what we call a B次元官网网址榟ighway equivalent basis,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.

The argument is that government subsidies should be on par with the cost of building a major highway of similar distance, as taxpayers contribute to the project regardless of usage.

B次元官网网址淲hat really brought that to a head was when they rebuilt the Sea-to-Sky Highway to get skiers up to Whistler faster and yet it wasnB次元官网网址檛 tolled, and here we are paying more all the time,B次元官网网址� Swierenga said.

B次元官网网址淪o, thereB次元官网网址檚 a deep-seated feeling that the government has lost sight of what the ferry corporation was envisioned to do when it was set up in the 1960s.B次元官网网址�

Blanket tolling of major infrastructure projects isnB次元官网网址檛 a new argument, but itB次元官网网址檚 unlikely to gain traction without widespread public support, said Transportation Minister Mary Polak.

B次元官网网址淲e do currently have an existing tolling policy in British Columbia that doesnB次元官网网址檛 have us tolled on routes where there isnB次元官网网址檛 a free alternative or there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been significant improvement or replacement,B次元官网网址� she said.

Gary Coons, the NDPB次元官网网址檚 ferries critic, said his party would bring B.C. Ferries back under the umbrella of the highway system, but failed to offer tangible ways of paying for any increase in government subsidies.

B次元官网网址淏efore the Coastal Ferry Act was established in 2003, ferries were considered the same as building new roads or bridges for the continual maintenance that you need,B次元官网网址� Coons said.

Transport Canada guidelines require B.C. Ferries to replace 11 vessels of its aging fleet within the next decade, a capital cost estimated at $2.5 billion, according to B.C. Ferry Commissioner Gord Macatee.

That looming expense has government scrambling to find more viable alternatives to the current model of single-ferry routes.

B次元官网网址淚n a lot of cases, we have vessels that are much larger than the route would require, in terms of their safety,B次元官网网址� Polak said. B次元官网网址淎nd in turn, they are, in some cases, much larger than we need for capacity.B次元官网网址�

Coons argues the user-pay model isnB次元官网网址檛 the right approach.

B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檝e got to ... acknowledge that itB次元官网网址檚 a difficult part of our highway network.B次元官网网址�

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Between now and Dec. 21, consultancy group Kirk & Co. will be visiting 30 coastal communities and accepting online submissions to gather public input on $21 million in cuts needed on the minor routes, and begin dialogue on a long-term vision for B.C. Ferries.

Coons questioned the process but agreed a new vision is needed to create a viable ferry system.

B次元官网网址淕oing out right now will do nothing to address the major issue of affordability and ridership, which needs immediate attention,B次元官网网址� Coons said.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a tough sell in the communities.B次元官网网址�

While Swierenga admitted Gulf Islanders recognize the need for change, he said there are still holes and questionable assumptions in the consultation process.

B次元官网网址淣o matter what you do, youB次元官网网址檙e going to get some flack, but ultimately, the decision should be made for the betterment of everybody, including the ferry corporation,B次元官网网址� he said.

Many residents inaccurately believe ferry amenities, such as restaurants and gift shops, are a driving factor in rising fares, Swierenga said.

In reality, those services account for $100 million in revenue each year and make use of staff who are required to be on board.

Changes to the Coastal Ferry Act also allow B.C. Ferries to use revenue from the profitable major routes to cover losses on the smaller routes.

B次元官网网址淚f (services) make money, theyB次元官网网址檙e positive as far as IB次元官网网址檓 concerned,B次元官网网址� Swierenga said.

There is a risk in lowering fares to increase ridership, as residents would likely take a long time to return to more frequent trips off-island, he said.

B次元官网网址淚 think if the fares dropped by 25 per cent, my wife and I probably wouldnB次元官网网址檛 travel much more than we do now, because youB次元官网网址檝e got a mindset now that you can accommodate less frequent trips,B次元官网网址� he said.

Daily commuters like Karen Pederson donB次元官网网址檛 have the luxury of fewer trips. Pederson takes the Fulford Harbour-Swartz Bay ferry five days a week, and bikes to-and-from her surveying job in Sidney to avoid paying for vehicle fares.

She estimates she spends $3,000 each year on passenger fares to keep her family and home on Salt Spring.

B次元官网网址淟uckily, I have a job that makes it worthwhile,B次元官网网址� she said, adding she hopes to see a renewed focus on providing service for the Gulf Islands.

B次元官网网址淟ong-term, the service canB次元官网网址檛 be privatized, it just doesnB次元官网网址檛 work,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of uncertainty, and part of that is due to a lack of information about what the ferry corporation is planning.B次元官网网址�

Southern Gulf Islands population

2006     2011    % change

B次元官网网址� Mayne Island          1,112    1,071      -3.7

B次元官网网址� Galiano Island         1,258    1,138      -9.5

B次元官网网址� Saturna Island          359      335        -6.7

B次元官网网址� North and South      2,232    2,236       N/C

Pender islands

B次元官网网址� Salt Spring Island    9,640    10,234    +6.2

TOTAL 14,601    15,014     +3

dpalmer@vicnews.com

UP NEXT: B.C. FerriesB次元官网网址� major route users air their concerns

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