BC FERRIES REDUCES COST OF TRAVEL BY 15 PER CENT ON 22 ROUTES AND INCREASES B.C. SENIORS’ DISCOUNT AS OF APRIL 1

Fares on the three Metro Vancouver – Vancouver Island routes held unchanged

VICTORIA – BC Ferries advises customers that as at April 1, 2018, fares on the 21 inter-island and northern routes, as well as the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale route, are reduced on average by 15 per cent. Fares on the three Metro Vancouver – Vancouver Island routes are held constant at current rates. In addition, the B.C. seniors’ passenger discount increased from 50 per cent to 100 per cent for travel Monday through Thursday (excluding holiday Mondays) on major and inter-island routes.

The Provincial Government and BC Ferries have reached an agreement to fund these reductions at a cost of $43.2 million for fiscal 2019 and $54.8 for fiscal 2020, for a total of $98 million. Of this amount, $78 million is for fare reductions of which BC Ferries is contributing $39 million. The Province is contributing the remaining $59 million for fare reductions and increased B.C. seniors’ discounts.

“We are focused on the affordability of ferry travel. Our present financial position allows us to use some of our net earnings to reduce fares for our customers.” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “This major additional contribution by the Province expands efforts to improve affordability.”

BC Ferries reinvests all of its net earnings to the benefit of ferry users in the following ways:

• Providing fare discounts and holding or reducing fares, as in the last two fiscal years, fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2018
• Investment in infrastructure, such as new vessels and terminals
• Improving the service by increasing the number of sailings
• Minimizing borrowing to lower the interest paid on debt
• Strengthening the ferry system’s ability to weather challenging economic conditions, including years with lower traffic

BC Ferries is also advising of several other tariff adjustments that improve affordability. The buy-in level for Experience Cards is reduced by 15 per cent to $95 for vehicle and driver and $55 for passenger fares. Reservation fees are $10 (down from $15 in 2017) for customers who book seven days in advance on reservable routes; reservations made less than seven days and up to one day prior are at $17; and reservations booked day of travel are $21. The cost of 10 Assured Loading tickets is held unchanged at $1550.

Last year, BC Ferries provided customers with approximately $7 million in discount promotions on targeted sailings, which helped move traffic to less busy sailings and open up space on popular sailings. This year’s offerings will be announced closer to the times of availability.

BC Ferries closely monitors the cost of fuel and applies a rebate or surcharge under a regulatory process that operates independent of tariffs. Travellers presently receive rebates of 2.9 per cent on major and inter-island routes and 1.9 per cent on northern routes. These are held unchanged as at April 1, 2018 to assist affordable travel. Depending on the cost of fuel, BC Ferries advises adjustments may be required in future.

For full details on the April 1 tariff adjustment, visit bcferries.com.

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Media Contact:                                                                          Customer Contact:
BC Ferries, Media Relations                                               Victoria:     (250) 386-3431
Victoria:     (250) 978-1267                                                Toll-free:   1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779)

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