Quote:
Originally Posted by ClaytonA
There's better uses for limited capital funds. Do a study, sure. But I'll be disappointed if any of this actually gets built in the next 20-30 years unless something big changes. Still need to plan for the long term though.
How much should we subsidize people to live on islands or on the Sunshine Coast?
Is it fair for people to live on Quadra and work in Campbell River, for the province to subsidize that lifestyle? Or Saltspring working in Sidney/Saanich/Victoria? Bowen in Vancouver? Gibsons in Vancouver? Why should I subsidize your lifestyle? To quote: "get your own damn boat, pay for your own moorage..."
Some subsidy, OK. Are they getting it about right? Opinions differ. But maybe it's a local issue and more subsidy is not something we, the province, can afford if we're going to have government revenues at the level people seem to want when they vote.
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You do realize that many of these ferries are a money-losing endeavor, right?
Either we raise prices for the ferries or build a bridge and get a toll to pay for the infrastructure. The thing with Ferries is that they don't scale well. They get MORE expensive to run, not LESS.
For the record, I agree with you about subsidizing their lifestyle and I think Ferry costs should go UP. It makes projects like building fixed links both more palatable and more realistic.
If you're charging 50¢ for lemonade that costs a $1 to make, then how are you going to get people to buy a home lemonade that will cost them $50 up front and 65¢ / cup?
We need to cost ferries appropriately, to do a true comparison.