The BC Conservatives have called on Premier David Eby and his NDP government to step in and help resolve a strike that will reduce essential ferry service to remote Kootenay towns by 90%.
Effective 6:30 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2025, the Glade and Harrop cable ferries will see their daily sailings reduced to 16 and eight, respectively.
In a statement, Conservative Kootenay-Rockies MLA Pete Davis called on NDP Kootenay Central MLA and Minister of Rural Services Brittny Anderson to "put rural communities first."
"This isn't just about logistics," he said. "It's about the people who depend on this ferry to access food, work, and critical services. The residents of Harrop and Glade deserve leadership. Their local MLA and Minister must stand up for them and ensure their voices are heard."
Davis urged the government to bring both the employer, Western Pacific Marine's Kootenay Lake Ferry Division, and the BC General Employees Union to the table and find a solution that will allow residents to one again get where they need to go.
The ferries are a lifeline for the towns of Harrop, Procter, and Glade, all of which are only accessible via ferry. The former two are located 20km northeast of Nelson while the former is 20km to the southwest.
Davis' sentiments were echoed by Conservative Langley-Abbotsford MLA and Transportation Critic Harman Bhangu.
"This is about protecting rural livelihoods and families," he said. "Leadership means taking responsibility, bringing stakeholders together, and ensuring no one is left behind."
Conservative Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis questioned why those in power had not taken action yet.
"The absence of both the Transportation Minister and the MLA whose riding this issue falls within demonstrates a continued lack of care and attention for rural BC by this NDP government," he argued. "The fact that concerned citizens are reaching out to Mr. Bhangu, Mr. Davis, and myself for assistance on this issue further proves that this government's priorities do not lie with small-town BC These services are not luxuries; we are talking about livelihoods here."
Lee Vincent of the Glade Ferry Committee told the Western Standard that residents were filled with "anxiety and anger," noting that they felt "incredible disappointment that the community was being used as a pawn and leverage to address a disagreement between labour management and the BC government."
When asked whether anyone in power had reached out or spoken about the plight of residents, she said the community had "heard nothing."