Budget 2018 has some good news on transportation. There are a handful of policy changes that will help decrease the costs for people who live in ferry dependent communities. Commitments were made to invest transit which I welcome in Saanich North and the Islands and the Capital Regional District.
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This budget brings some good news on transportation. I welcome the province’s commitment in this budget to supporting the Metro Mayors Council ten-year vision on transportation.
This budget also has some good news for our region. It includes an increase of a 2-cents-per-litre tax on gas and diesel in the CRD. This increase will provide $7 million of much-needed funding for the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and its share of funding for the Victoria regional transit system.
Certainly, not everyone will agree with the fuel tax increase. But I believe it is an appropriate and necessary change to better provide funding for transit. We desperately need improved transportation options on the Saanich Peninsula and right across the CRD.
In this budget, government also promised to freeze ferry fares on three major routes, including Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen, in my riding, to reduce fares on all non-major routes by 15 percent — this, I’m sure, will be welcome news to the residents of the five southern Gulf Island communities that I proudly represent — and to reinstate the seniors 100 percent discount on passenger fares between Monday and Thursday.
The government says that our ferries are part of our highway system. I absolutely agree with them. And I agree with the Minister of Finance that Gulf Islanders are unfairly carrying more of the cost of their highways than others in B.C. do.
That is why we have advocated for bringing B.C. Ferries back into government and why I’m disappointed that the government’s ongoing review of B.C. Ferries does not consider this option. Ferries are not just highways. They also should be marine buses, with more focus on moving foot passengers as well. Coordinated with B.C. Transit, they provide a natural extension for our regional transportation network.
The 2011 Transit Future Plan, following extensive consultation, highlighted the need for bus rapid transit from the West Shore, UVic and downtown connecting the Saanich Peninsula at Uptown. Workers, employers, mayors and councillors have all recognized transportation as one of the highest priorities. Let’s take the steps to better connect Swartz Bay, the Victoria Airport and two critical manufacturing centres with the rest of the region.
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