Driftwood Editorial - Hearing vs. listening
The provincial government has finally heard calls of concern from citizens who have had enough of ferry fares that never seem to stop spiraling upward.
Given the cost of a ticket to ride on any of BC Ferries’ minor routes have tacked a steady upward course that’s been roughly four times higher than the rate of inflation in recent years, one has to wonder why it’s taken so long for the BC Liberals to finally get wind of the matter.
It’s wonderful to see the ferry fare debate make provincial headlines and it’s always good news to hear someone like Blair Lekstrom, the province’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, acknowledge a need to ensure the ferry network is, “Not just the best system but one that’s affordable to travel on.”
What happens next, however, is anyone’s guess.
And it’s likely to stay unknown for the duration of a six-month review that’s been proposed by the BC Ferry Commissioner and wholeheartedly supported by the province.
With talk in Victoria pointing to a provincial election approximately six months from now, one is led to wonder who will be left to hear what comes out of the review and if he or she will ever be in the mood to listen.
According to Lekstrom, the turnaround is a result of the new Christy Clark-led BC Liberals’ “family first lens.”
That’s presumably the same lens used to garner so much positive press when Clark announced the elimination of parking fees in BC Parks earlier this month.
How the elimination of parking fees will help restore the province’s once well-staffed and immaculately maintained parks network to their former glory is still a huge unknown.
Given the favorable headlines and widespread news clips of ministerial promises that swift action will be taken to “make sure the services families use are sustainable and affordable,” there’s good reason to wonder if bigger picture challenges like dwindling government subsidies and declining ridership will simply be heard or actually listened to and acted upon.
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