Ferry Ride

The Campbell government pulled one of the oldest gags in the book when it "privatized" the BC Ferries.

Of course, we the taxpayers still shovel millions of dollars into this wet road system (which is, after all, the slithery end of the Trans-Canada Highway), but now Victoria can put up their arm's distance and claim innocence whenever anything goes wrong (like, daily) and whenever the fares are hiked higher than a Powell Street hooker's skirts.

David Hahn, the American airline executive from the East Coast, who now runs this system, has been raising the rates consistently since he came aboard. In return, we are given posters, murals and video games.

What he has never considered is the obvious reduction in fares for resident daily and regular users such as exists in almost every public transportation system around the world.

Tourists pay 6 Euros a ticket for Venice's water bus, the vaparetto. But anyone with a Venice ID card (I have one.) can buy 10 tix for 9 Euros.

My last trip to Victoria cost $53 each way for me and my tiny Mazda. In addition, I paid $15 for a reservation on the return trip.

Now, that reservation system has been a huge income booster for Mr. Hahn. To avoid 3 hour waits, more and more British Columbians are paying the surcharge.

But more and more British Columbians, knowing that a car and a carload of family will cost them $200 Plus for a little getaway are staying home.

Can you say, "Highway Robbery, Boys and Girls?"