Correspondence regarding Return of Free Ferry Fares for BC Seniors

for Action June Agenda

From: Carol Christopher
Sent: May-20-14 2:02 PM
Subject: Ferry Rates
Attachments: ferry letter 003a.jpg

7968 – 161A Street
Surrey, B.C. V4N 0K3
May 20, 2014

Dear Sir or Madam:

As you may be aware, the BC Ferry Authority has recently reduced a long-standing fare incentive to encourage BC seniors traveling at low-ridership times of the week from free to half regular fare. While this incentive was in place it led to increased tourist and family travel to Vancouver Island and the mainland. This resulted in revenue generation for the Ferry Corporation and its partners through on-board and terminal retail sales. More importantly, it has brought more business to the entire Island economy as well as to mainland businesses by encouraging seniors travel between the Island and the mainland. The loss of this incentive as of April 1, 2014, while it may look like the Ferry Corporation is taking steps to increase revenue, will do the opposite.

Please find attached a letter that is being sent to the B.C. Ferry Authority on behalf of the retired employees of WorkSafe BC requesting the return of free ferry fares for BC seniors riding between Monday and Thursday.

We ask that you would add your voice to our campaign, by communicating your displeasure to the Ferry Authority over this matter. Not only are seniors being unjustly served by the ferry rate increase, but the economy of many mainland businesses and Vancouver Island communities including, but not limited to, Nanaimo and Victoria, are being harmed by this action by BC Ferries. Your help in this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Carol A. Christopher
Secretary
Workers’ Compensation Board Retirees Association

encl.

c.c. Other Government Departments
City Mayors
Chambers of Commerce

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7968 – 161A Street
Surrey, B.C. V4N 0K3
May 5, 2014

Mr. Mike Corrigan
President & C.E.O.
B.C. Ferry Authority
Suite 500
1321 Blanshard Street
Victoria, B.C. V8W 0B7

Dear Sir:

We, the undersigned Directors of the WCB Retirees Association, are writing on behalf of all our members to relay to you that, as a group of seniors, we are very disappointed with the recent ferry rate increase. We strongly support the return of the ferry being free for seniors riding between Monday and Thursday.

Seniors today are active and those living on the West Coast of British Columbia rely heavily on the ferries to travel to Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast where many have retired, or the smaller islands. Some of our members on the mainland have family and/or friends on either Vancouver Island or one of the other islands, and with the increase in the ferry rate can no longer visit them as often as they would like. Additionally, many seniors attend various craft or music fairs, go camping, skiing, golfing or fishing or take out of town visitors to Butchart Gardens. Conversely, many seniors living on one of the Islands or the Sunshine Coast travel to the mainland to attend specialist appointments, undergo medical procedures, visit grandchildren, attend the theater, or sports events. Many of them also travel to the United States, the interior of the Province and the rest of Canada, and if living on Vancouver Island, rely on the ferry service to get them to the mainland.

We believe the increase in ferry fares is a real hardship to those seniors living on a modest pension. We believe the loss of revenue from seniors' food purchases, coffees or meals in the cafeteria would offset any fare increase the Ferry Corporation will realize from increasing the seniors' ferry fare. We wonder if the loss of tourism to the Island and to the mainland due to fewer people riding the ferry was taken into consideration when the rates were changed.

We would greatly appreciate if you would take our concerns into consideration and reinstate the free ferry rides for seniors from Monday to Thursday. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Maryanne Schultz
President

Carol Sallenback
Treasurer

Carol Christopher
Secretary

Margaret Perry
Director

Carole Peterson
Director

Wendy Pantages
Director

Rina Luchin
Director

Eldon Johnson
Director

Rae McInnes
Director

Gary Spencer
Director

c.c. Other Government Departments/Officials
City Mayors, Tourist Bureaus
Other Retiree Associations, C.A.R.P.