DoNotPassGo
PayThroughTheNoseForPick-UpParkingVille
Robert Matas, consistently the best thing going in The Globe, BC Division, has a pretty good analysis of the Ferry’s Commisioner’s report up. Here’s his lede:
BC Ferries commissioner Gord Macatee has called for a major overhaul in a review of ferry operations released earlier this week. He urged the B.C. government to abandon its commitment to a user pay system and drop its opposition to major routes subsidizing the less-travelled ones. He recommended that fares be capped at the rate of inflation over the next three years.
His proposals would require a significant shift in ideology the B.C. Liberal government. Accepting the recommendations could lead to substantial government subsidies. The Liberals would be reversing what they have done over the past decade….
And blogger ‘spartikus’ has a very nice analysis up over at his place, which is all the more impressive given that he is self-declared as a non-economist:
….(I)t’s kind of fundamental – whom does BC Ferries compete with? Whose competition is forcing them into the ever greater efficiencies the “crucible of the market” is supposed to force? I’m not an expert on ferries or transportation systems, but even I – a liberal arts student! – have never understood this crazy system the BC Liberals have set up (in more than one area). Privatization without competition is monopoly and a private monopoly is worse, much worse, than a public one. At least in democratic states where the rule of law is well-established, which try as the Liberals may to undermine it, British Columbia has and retains…
Anyway….
Kinda funny, donch’a think, that David Hahn ain’t ’round no more to take the heat on this one.
The again, even though BCF is once again subject to FOI requests, it is quite possible that if Mr. Hahn flew in today, they’d send a limousine anyway.
OK?
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