B.C. Ferries has been holding public meetings on the southern Gulf Islands looking for feedback on new schedules. The feedback has been consistently negative, but most islanders do not believe that it will make any difference. On this occasion, that might really matter.
For years, B.C. Ferries has been criticized for the damage it has inflicted on coastal and island communities by its long-term history of aggressive price increases. Now there is a new fear. An existing vessel needs to be decommissioned and is being replaced by two smaller vessels. This change requires a new approach to scheduling.
For internal operating reasons, B.C. Ferries is proposing to install even more limited services and less-convenient schedules to go with the high prices, schedules that are damaging to business and tourism. In the past, the islanders would grumble and endure, but this time could be different. Saturna, in particular, might be at the tipping point.
It is worth remembering some history. The first Gulf Islands ferry service was private, but that venture failed. Next, the service was run as a government-funded monopoly. Coming out of that history, the service has morphed into this hybrid that is a guaranteed monopoly with the freedom of action of a private company while being financially backed by the provincial government.
From the ferry corporation’s perspective, this is wonderful, but the result is power without responsibility.
It is also worth remembering that the Gulf Islands are at the mercy of B.C. Ferries. The steady but relentless increase in costs matched with the reduction in services has undermined the economic viability of many of the islands.
It is growing harder for contractors and businesses to control costs, or transportation services to operate efficiently. Tourists encounter high prices, poor schedules and crowded ferries. Potential retirees don’t need the hassle and can find themselves a better deal elsewhere. For the youth, there are few prospects without going down the road.
You might dismiss the islanders as wealthy white folks, hardly the profile of victims, and with many being environmentalists, largely unconcerned if development fails. Who would it harm, you might say, if Saturna turned back into wilderness, except for a few very private homes for some really rich people with their own transportation? Well, maybe it would hurt those who live there now.
Think of this as a relationship. On the one side, there is B.C. Ferries, holding all of the power and answering to no one; on the other side, most of the southern Gulf Islands, entirely dependent and somewhat abused. We know the corporation’s planners are not vindictive, but they all live elsewhere and have little investment in the islands.
The new schedule has the makings of a self-fulfilling prophecy. After a year or two of what it has to offer, it could easily become the level of service that the islands need.
We can’t fight this on our own. We have no power. We have four levels of government, but at the meeting on Pender, only two showed up. We desperately need a champion, but no one seems to care.
Chris Scattergood is a resident of Pender Island.
