Re: 鈥�1.5 per cent fuel surcharge added to B.C. Ferries鈥� fares,鈥� May聽17.
Mark Collins, CEO of B.C. Ferries, recently outlined the policy regarding the present fuel surcharge.
Though B.C. Ferries plans to entice users onto its late-night and early sailings by reducing fares, isn鈥檛 this counter-productive overall?
Currently, B.C. Ferries offers near half-price summer RV discounts to large private trailer and tourist vehicles while retaining hefty charges for its mainstay services for commercial vehicles.
If they are going to discount RV users, then kindly apply these discounts to the commercials, which supply Island stores with goods.
Between high fuel prices and absurd ferry charges, it鈥檚 no wonder Islanders are paying dearly for retail goods and food.
Wouldn鈥檛 it be better to operate a congestion-relief service on a 24-hour sailing structure through the summer to and from Duke Point, where the terminals at each end have little impact on residential areas yet would improve use for commercial traffic and would decrease congestion on other Island routes? Fare discounts could then be applied to all overnight traffic to entice midnight-to-6-a.m. users.
James Cooper
Victoria
