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Port sends strong letter to Ferries

Port Clements council voted Monday night to send a strongly-worded letter to BC Ferries, protesting the way schedule cuts are being carried out and the fact that reservations can't be made for any sailings after April 1.The situation is having a huge impact on local tourism and is also causing trouble for residents who are trying to make reservations to travel for medical reasons, Port says."These actions have serious repercussions for the coastal communities who require the use of BC Ferries to travel with the province of BC," Port's letter reads. "BC Ferry use isn't an option for people who live on Haida Gwaii - it is an essential service."The letter also criticizes BC Ferries for rolling out an opinion survey about the cuts with less than 10 weeks before the new schedules are supposed to be implemented.Meanwhile, Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District chair Barry Pages has written to Premier Christy Clark to request a joint meeting between Ms Clark and all ferry-dependent communities, saying the service cuts will have "serious and detrimental impacts" in coastal areas. Ms Clark already turned down a previous request from the SQCRD for a meeting on the issue, saying her schedule was too busy.The service cuts were ordered by the provincial government and are set to take effect on April 28, but BC Ferries is still working on details of the new schedules.