Dear Editor:
The article "B.C. chips in $40M to Seaspan bid" in the July 27 North Shore News was interesting and informative, but one line left me perplexed.
B.C. Ferries is apparently going to "contribute" (sub headline) or in the text of the article "has promised" $20 million towards the project.
At a time when B.C. Ferries is forcing its customers to pay ever-increasing fares and fuel surcharges and has stated that unless it obtains higher subsidies from the provincial government it will continue to increase fares - and in some cases reduce services - how can it possibly justify such a contribution?
As a regular ferry user I am very well aware of these increases.
You don't say in your article what form the contribution will take. Is it to be a contract for servicing ferries?
If so, I understood that B.C. Ferries already uses B.C. shipyards to service its vessels. Is it to be an outright cash contribution?
If so, what is the consideration for such a contribution?
If there is no consideration, it would then simply amount to a donation, and why?
Surely these questions are worthy of a follow up to your article.
Roger Burgon
West Vancouver
