A review of the Vancouver Island Transportation Requirements.

A review of the Vancouver Island Transportation requirements.

When the NDP first came into power in the early 1970’s Vancouver Island was their base. This base was centered in Nanaimo and Vancouver Island was a flourishing resource center for British Columbia with two dominant industries: forestry and fishing.

Between the mainland and Vancouver Island were the Gulf Islands and the access to V.I. was sailing around the Gulf Islands. The economy was doing well and the population was expanding, with Ferry access by the Victoria route and the Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay route. The Gulf Islands became progressively popular as a residential location and all ferry services became under pressure for expansion. Larger ferries and terminals were essential components for the inevitable growth and all terminals became pressured to expand or relocate.

The New Democrats decided that for their constituents on Vancouver Island, the ferry service had to be expanded and plans were made to build larger terminals and ferries. At the same time in order to provide for the increased demand for a broad range of services to and from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, more efficient routes planned for.

In order to provide for these expansions in service delivery and to build the most efficient transportation network, the NDP decided that the shortest route would be the most cost effective solution. The logical way to solve this would be to find a route that supplied the required needs. At the same time environmental issues become more popular and because the Gulf Islands were in between the mainland and Vancouver Island, the NDP created the Islands Trust to provide some measure of order.

The NDP passed the Islands Trust Act as a solution to the variety of interests at stake: transportation, environmental considerations and population demands. The Islands Trust Act set aside a transportation route for Vancouver Island that combined the shortest route for the ferry system, a bridge connection   for Gabriola Islander’s needs and a framework for continued growth on Vancouver Island. The OCP for Gabriola Island included the transportation requirements and the environmental needs.

The NDP lost the next election and the Social Credit government did not follow through with the transportation plans but kept the Islands Trust Act intact. New ferries were built, terminals were expanded and the pressures induced by economic demands from Vancouver Island, continued. When the NDP were elected again, they decided that speed was the dominant factor, not expense and ferry crossing time, so they created the Fast Cats ferry system that failed on all fronts.

The Social Credit had morphed into the Liberal Party and due to out of control fare increases, inefficient crossing routes and international financial upheavals, the Liberals have amended the Coastal Ferry Act to include all options including bridges to replace inefficient ferries.

A review of the ferry system by public consultation is underway and the first step will be for the Liberal government to choose the candidate best suited to determine the direction of the ferry system. The choices are higher fares, decreased sailings, cables instead of engines and bridges to replace ferries.

Jeremy Baker

Small Road Bridge

Small Road Bridge

The Government has very recently amended the Coastal Ferry Act

 The Provincial Government has started the process of consultation with Island communities, in an attempt to plan the future of the ferry system. The choice of Consultant should be complete sometime in July.

The Government has very recently amended the Coastal Ferry Act to include all options, including, bridge alternatives, to replace increasingly expensive ferry systems. The last survey of Gabriolan attitutudes to transportation choices, pegged dissatisfaction with the present situation of high costs, at over 50%, and 35% of Gabriolans would prefer a bridge instead.

The Gabriola run loses money and the Province is displaying concern about its ability to cover future costs. The upcoming public discussion of our future needs will include reductions in service, as many runs are almost empty, so our choice will be: reduction of service, increased costs or a bridge.

I wonder what the choices for Saltspring Island will be, because they have three ferry services and six terminals to service their needs. Will Saltspring Island have a single bridge alternative to three ferries to choose from? Visualize three ferries and six terminals for 10,000 citizens!

We must ensure that the upcoming survey of our opinions, are conducted with a private ballot like in an election, to avoid name calling and disparaging remarks.

Maybe we can ask for a second ferry service, direct to Vancouver, like Saltspring Island has? Would not that be fair? The Southern Gulf Islands loose $26 million, mostly Saltspring, per year. Of course we could replace our ferry, on poorly utilized runs, with cheaper foot passenger only ferries to save money.

 Jeremy Baker.

Gabriola Island Bridge

The purpose of this Blog is to provide a forum for those Islanders who support the Bridge option for our transportation needs.

The Provincial Government has recently amended the Coastal Ferry Act in such a way, that a Bridge option is on the table.

The Government’s position is to prepare a process for an Island to have input for a decision on the future of Transportation to that Island.

Further comments will be forthcoming as the Government’s position becomes clear.

Jeremy Baker.

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