Coastal Ferries: Restoration of Service Levels, Fiscal Fairness Long-term Strategy

WHEREAS the Union of BC Municipalities UBCM has requested that the Province abandon any plans to increase fares andor reduce core ferry service levels, as such actions would have irreparable negative impacts on the economic well-being of coastal communities and the provincial tourism sector; AND WHEREAS the UBCM has called on the Province to implement legislation that recognizes ferry services as essential extensions of our public highway system and ensures fiscal fairness between BCs terrestrial and marine highway systems; AND WHEREAS the UBCM has requested that the Province develop a long-term ferry services strategy, based on detailed socio-economic inquiry, that supports the sustainability of coastal communities and the provincial tourism sector; AND WHEREAS over the past year the Province has a failed to implement a long-term ferry services strategy, b allowed further rapid escalation of ferry fares, and c implemented deep cuts to ferry services without conducting a socio-economic impact analysis: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Province to: - Reverse the cuts to coastal ferry services implemented on April 28, 2014 and restore 2013 service levels; - Work co-operatively with coastal communities on implementing a long-term strategy for the coastal ferry system, based on detailed socio-economic inquiry, that supports the sustainability of coastal communities and the provincial tourism sector; - Implement legislation that recognizes the coastal ferry system as an extension of our highway system and ensures fiscal fairness between the marine and terrestrial components of our highway system; and - Freeze ferry fares and service levels at 2013 levels until such time as the above legislation and strategy are implemented.