VICTORIA — The B.C. New Democrats want to hear about the real costs of service cuts at B.C. Ferries. At a new website launched today – BCFerriesSOS.ca – ferry users can share their own stories about how the cuts will affect them and their families.

“Since these service cuts were announced in November, I have heard hundreds of stories about the real effects they will have, and they are staggering,” said New Democrat ferries critic Claire Trevena. “I’ve heard everything from tourism operators whose businesses are being put in jeopardy, to seniors who will suffer from less accessible medical services, to professionals who will have to leave their communities because these cuts will mean they can’t get to work.”

Trevena said she wants to be sure that every ferry user has a chance to tell the B.C. Liberal government what will be lost if these cuts, scheduled for implementation in April, go ahead.

“The B.C. Liberal government did not bother to find out what impact these changes would have on coastal economies and communities before announcing them – but we will make sure they hear about it,” said Trevena.

Despite telling media when announcing the cuts that his approach would be to ‘look people in the eyes and talk to them about why it’s necessary,’ Transportation Minister Todd Stone failed to show up to a single meeting with affected communities, said Trevena.

“When our caucus returns to the legislature this spring, we will fight for a reversal of these damaging cuts, and accountability from a government that has turned its back on our ferry system.”