VICTORIA – The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce commends BC Ferries for its recent initiative to provide 50 percent savings on vehicle fares for select sailings starting mid-November.
“We applaud BC Ferries market-based approach and happy to see such flexibility and potential savings offered to Greater Victoria residents, whether they sail with BC Ferries for pleasure or work,” said Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO, Bruce Carter. “This initiative – coupled with BC Ferries’ work to rationalize routes and adopt alternate fuels – helps to minimize costs and to move rates within reach of all residents.”
The Chamber believes that a safe, efficient and dependable ferry service is critical to B.C. coastal communities. As a gateway to Vancouver Island, ferry service serves as a major corridor to facilitate commerce both on and off the island as well as directly support key sectors to our region’s economy and vibrancy, such as tourism.
In recent years, BC Ferries has experienced significant increases in costs. The Chamber believes the resulting fare increases have acted as a deterrent to many of British Columbia’s most important industry sectors and have become a disincentive for local economic development.
The Chamber will continue to advocate the Government of B.C. to increase its subsidies to northern and minor routes to ensure sustainable and affordable ferry transportation to, from, and within Vancouver Island.
