B.C. Ferry Uncertainty Hurts Economy

The ongoing uncertainty over ferry service to B.C.'s North Coast is already having a major economic impact on tourism operators, as some travelers have already canceled their plans. BC Ferries lost one of its two vessels that serve the area when the Queen of the North sank on March 22, with the loss of two lives. The corporation has said it will announce its plans within a week for moving about 10,000 tourists to northern B.C. this summer. Some businesses relying on tourism, however, feel that it is too late. Meanwhile, BC Ferries is still trying to figure out how to cover the north's two busy summer routes with just one ferry. One option being considered for the Queen Charlottes is to use barges and float planes instead of a ferry. The other option is to reduce summer service, using just one ship to ferry people from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, and then from Prince Rupert to the Queen Charlottes. (Source: CBC British Columbia)