A few timely reminders for the NDP that when it comes to Transportation on the North Coast/Haida Gwaii ... There's still a fair bit of work to do

The difference of opinion in how the level of service
for BC Ferries is viewed between Victoria and Haida Gwaii
is making for a recurring theme
of concern for Islanders this summer

It's been a busy couple of weeks for the NDP government, which recently celebrated their ascent to power with some thankful tweets and Facebook posts through Social Media, many commemorating their chance to take the governance of the Province out for a test drive for this last year.

And as the summer rolls along, there have been any number of announcements of progress on many files that the NDP government has turned their attention towards.

A large volume of them dutifully relayed to the constituents by North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice who has done some strong work when it comes to representing the government to the residents of the riding.

However, for some on the North Coast and Haida Gwaii, the need to do some representing for the constituents to the Cabinet Ministers in the Horgan government that she's working with, would seem to still be a work in progress.

One area where the concerns are growing in frequency and volume, comes from the level of service that BC Ferries is providing to the North Coast and regional communities, both on Haida Gwaii and to the south on the Central Coast and on to Port Hardy.

The transportation troubles on the Provincial government's radar percolated over the last few weeks, first with an announcement that the highly touted Central Coast connection between Port Hardy and Bella Coola and Bella Bella won't be ready for the summer season debut as promised. 

A situation which won't find any relief until the end of the summer travel season, when the Northern Adventure can be re-tasked to fill in duties until the Northern Sea Wolf is indeed ready for duty.

Then there's the issues for the run from Prince Rupert to Haida Gwaii, as well as the inter Island service between Skidegate and Aliford Bay.

Both of which are proving to be an ongoing concern for many of the residents that live on the Islands.

Such is the growing level of frustration, that Andrew Merilees, the Mayor of Masset perhaps speaking for many over the last few weeks, took to his Social media account to call attention to the need for better service from the province when it comes to Transportation.

And indeed if Ms. Rice, or those working in her office, are monitoring the MLA's Facebook feed, there is some bubbling discontent over how slow the NDP has been to address Ferry issues, as well as on a few other issues of note when it comes to life on the Islands.

The concerns from Haida Gwaii are not new and have been long standing irritants for Island residents, with many of the themes of this summer,  the same issues that the NDP was quick to put in the spotlight back when they were sitting on the opposition side of the Legislature.

To follow up on some of those ongoing issues, the North Coast Review contacted Mayor Merilees, who outlined some of the areas where the frustrations are growing among those on Haida Gwaii.

"Masset Council continues to be very disappointed with the action, or lack of action shown to resolve the long standing issues we have previously illustrated with BC Ferries, despite what we feel was a commitment to do so, made during the last election. 

The roll back of fares first announced has been largely reversed through the re implementation of the fuel surcharge. 

We find it, the service between Skidegate and Aliford Bay which connects the islands community of Sandspit completely unacceptable and will continue to call for the addition of evening sailings which would reconnect Sandpit and allow its residents to fully become integrated and able to participate with the other Islands communities in a meaningful manner. 

The failure to immediately implement the 6th sailing to Haida Gwaii continues to limit the growth of our limited tourism economy and the economical access to health or other services required by our residents." 

One solution that has been proposed by Island residents is to bring BC Ferries under the control and oversight of the Provincial Transportation network, though as the Mayor notes, that solution so far has not gained much traction in Victoria.

"Our calls to bring the Ferry system back into the Provincial Transportation network was supported and championed during the election however the Minister has been waffling and is back peddling on the commitment given to fix the broken structure of the BC Ferry System. 

The current review is seen as a further stalling tactic to connect the North Coast, so it is able to participate in Provincial services in an adequate fashion that is taken for granted elsewhere in the Province." 

Something that may also capture the attention of MLA Rice and the Provincial Government is the impression through the Mayor, of how a lack of action on transportation issues may have an impact on the usually solid support that the NDP has seen from Islanders.

 "Without question the government is losing the support of many islanders due to their continued mismanagement and failure to structurally fix the issues with BC Ferries by not making it part of the Ministry of Transportation."

Considering that growing level of frustration, MLA Rice may want to bring the Transportation Minister Clair Trevena up to Haida Gwaii before the summer season comes to an end and host a Town Hall session.

It might just be the best measure that the NDP government may get as to what is needed when it comes to improved service levels and just how long overdue they continue to be.

You can explore more on the Marine transportation sector on the North Coast, Haida Gwaii and north to Alaska from our archive page here.

Further items of interest from the Legislature can be reviewed here.

As well, we offer a wider overview of provincial issues through our political blog D'Arcy McGee.


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