The NDP has restated their promise to return BC Ferry Corp. to Crown Corporation status and has falsely claimed that BC Ferries does not allow local companies to bid on contracts.
· The NDP wants to go back to the “fast ferry model” for running BC Ferries. They want to go back to the way it was when the NDP built the Fast Ferries – a project that cost BC taxpayers almost a half-billion dollars for three ships that didn’t work.
· It is factually wrong to say that local companies are not allowed to bid on contracts. Shipbuilding contracts are always awarded by open tender – that’s the right thing to do for taxpayers and ferry users.
· The NDP promise to return BC Ferries to Crown Corporation status will add almost $600 million to the province’s debt.
· The NDP platform doesn’t even properly account for this massive increase in the province’s debt. BC Ferries was previously included in “taxpayer-supported” debt – but the current version of the NDP platform excludes this half-billion dollar debt increase from their calculations.
· The NDP plan will result in the end of private sector investment in BC Ferries. This will add another $2 billion debt on to taxpayers over the next 15 years. As it currently stands, over $2 billion in private sector capital is expected to fund capital expansion (new ferries, terminal upgrades) over the next 15 years for the independent BC Ferries Services.
