Ferry meeting “opened up a dialogue”
By Bruce Mason, Gabriola Sounder
Monday, February 25 2008
The MV Quinsam requires a $15 million dollar refit, nearly double earlier estimates, ferry fare increases in April will be 4% across the board, a new card system for payment will go into effect on March 26th and changes in the sailing schedule will be introduced, June 25th.
Those are among the highlights of a “Special Community Meeting to discuss items of concern about our ferry,” at the Community Hall, February 21st. About 150 people participated, including MLA Leonard Krog, BC Ferries CFO Rob Clarke, VP Pubic Affairs, Mark Stefanson, Southern Islands Marine Supt. Chris Frappell, and MV Quinsam Senior Master, Capt. Michael Smit.
The items on the agenda for the meeting - which was co-sponsored by Gabriola Ferry Advisory Committee and Ratepayers - were controversial new “cut off” times for loading cars and passengers; fare increases; the newly-named Experience Card (previously known as the Coast Card and Smart Card); and the ferry schedule.
New cut-off times were necessitated for safety reasons, Frappell reported and Clarke shared figures which indicate almost 60% of the costs of minor routes are borne by government.
He also said the new card will eliminate the “nightmare of paper” associated with the current book system and provide “greater flexibility.” Discounts will continue to be provided.
The schedule changes - as reported earlier in the Sounder - will provide a crew meal break in the evening. The 7:55 pm sailing from Nanaimo will now leave at 8:25 and the final ferry will be 11:20 rather than 10:55 pm.
Andre Lemieux who chaired the meeting said later that it had “opened up a dialogue,” with BC Ferries Corp. There will be a report in next week’s Sounder including the information from the power point presentation which wasn’t visible to many in the audience.
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