Taking the ferry in B.C. is about to get more expensive.
BC Ferries announced Friday that prices for vehicles and walk-on passengers is going up by four per cent on average for major and minor routes beginning Tuesday.
Ferries that service northern routes between Port Hardy, Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii will see an increase of two per cent. On those routes the over-height vehicle tariff will be eliminated.
According to BC Ferries, the fare hikes are a result of increasing operating costs, fuel prices and labour.
Reservation fees made a week or more in advance will not be increased, remaining at $15, and reservations made less than seven days will also remain the same at $18.50. Same day reservations will increase from $18.50 to $22.
Assured loading tickets are also increasing by $10 each.
BC Ferries has been the target of several recent protests over upcoming fare hikes and cuts to service.
This spring, $18.9 million in service reductions will begin to take effect, something that concerns residents of coastal communities.
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Todd Stone, said the government understands the frustrations of people that live in coastal communities but changes have to be made.
“We’re going to do everything in our power to get BC Ferries to a place of affordability and sustainability,” he said earlier this month.
“That means, making some tough decisions on service levels. There are too many sailings in the big BC Ferries system, with utilization rates in the low teens and in single digits. I think British Columbians support us in not believing it’s sustainable to have more cars, more staff than cars and passengers.”
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