BC LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WASTES BILLIONS ON FERRIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 9, 2006

Cranbrook: British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. recently announced a $28 million dollar "upgrade" to four loading bays at Horseshoe Bay (near West Vancouver) and Departure Bay (near Nanaimo). This followed an announcement that they were having three new giant car and truck ferries made in Germany. In total, this corporation plans to spend $200 million on ramps and bays and $2.5 billion on boats.

BC Conservative Leader Wilf Hanni said today said that this money would be better spent on a new bridge between Vancouver Island and the Mainland, which would be a far better addition to our highway system than new ferries would be. It would also create work for British Columbians.

”Let’s not get rid of the car ferries yet,” said Hanni. “People who travel to the Island depend on them. But, let’s keep using the recently overhauled ferries on the Horseshoe Bay/Departure Bay route. They would be fine for another decade or two, at least, giving us plenty of time to complete the bridge.”

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