North Coast MLA Bill Belsey says changes to the BC ferry service will mean predictable rates, improved service and stability.
"This is a huge step in the right direction, to recognizing the importance of coastal communities and understanding the shortcomings of the current system," Mr. Belsey said, "in the past, politics played a large role in deciding what rates would be and where ferries would run. The new authority provides stability in knowing the routes are secure and we know clearly what the rates will be."
The government announced last week that the BC Ferry Corp. would be dismantled and replaced with an operating company, BC Ferry Services and a watchdog organization, the BC Ferry Authority.
Mr. Belsey says the new structure will bring new investment into the system and offer greater choice for customers.
He also says tourism will benefit. Operators have long said they need stability, they need to plan and they need to be able to market with some confidence," he said, "they now have that ability, with detailed schedules being committee to two years in advance, and that will benefit the entire coast."