Higher taxes for lower fares
Taxes are taxes, and it seems no matter what we do, we’re going to have to pay the piper to keep our ferry system afloat. Assuming there are no further ways since the departure of Hahn for the BCF Corp to shed expenses.
The question then is do we pay the province or do we pay the RDN? The recommendation from the Ferry Commissioner that local governments can off-set ferry fares sets up the possibility we could, through the local taxes, invest directly in to our own route to keep our fares low. It’s selfish but if we have the tax base to pull from and if through a referendum we vote in favour of lowering ferry fares, that could mean creating a Gabriola that is affordable for both residents and visitors.
It would need to be an assessment tax - to put it in as a parcel tax would further punish those who are least able to pay.
No one wants to pay more taxes, but no one wants higher fares either. Either way, we’re going to have to pay. Let’s at least invest in the route we can best get some of our investment out of.