After more than two years work to convince the provincial government to return a seasonal ferry service between Port Hardy and Bella Coola, the group responsible for most of the legwork is crediting Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett for her pivotal role in its success.
The Mid-Coast Working Group (MCWG), consisting of 15 aboriginal and non-aboriginal partners from across the province, was formed after the previous ferry route was cancelled in April 2014.
In its pursuit of tourism development and economic sustainability in the Great Bear Rainforest, the committee has worked diligently to resurrect the Port Hardy to Bella Coola ferry service.
MCWG co-chair Keith Henry says Barnett was the committee’s liaison to the provincial government, and her strong voice in the legislature on the seasonal ferry’s importance to tourism all through the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast tourism region.
“Donna Barnett was invaluable to the progress of the [MCWG] and the recent government decision.”
Bella Coola isn’t in Barnett’s constituency, but when the ferry was cancelled, the MLA says she identified its importance to Chilcotin businesses all along Highway 20, and has been vocal to government since then.
Henry says Barnett’s advocacy to Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone, Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Minister Shirley Bond, Premier Christy Clark and others was “absolutely critical” in keeping the importance of the issue spotlighted.
“She’s the one who convinced us to [propose] solutions, not just talk about the problems. Having her guide us and just be an advocate, was absolutely invaluable.”
The working group saw Barnett’s direct involvement give real momentum to their cause in some pivotal meetings earlier this year, he explains.
“She was very instrumental in the meeting we had starting last February in Victoria with Minister Stone and Minister Bond – ‘shepherding’ if you will, the meetings with the premier at the end of June.”
Henry adds once Barnett got more involved with the MCWG members working directly with her, she really “took over” the helm for their cause.
“She was relentless with the premier, and she was relentless with the ministers – in a constructive way.”
Barnett says she is pleased with the success of the MCWG and all the voices of tourism groups, businesses, residents, and community and aboriginal leaders they carried with them, in convincing the provincial government to reinstate a ferry service to the Great Bear Rainforest.
“When the ferry was cancelled in 2014, it was a decision that I did not take lightly, nor did the tourism operators in the Chilcotin and Cariboo.”
The initial meeting held at Anahim Lake with West Chilcotin tourism operators and government made it clear the decision was a done deal, she notes.
“We decided we were going to pursue reinstating the ferry.”
The MLA adds that as soon as they had some supporting data, they met with Bond and Stone and presented a case.
That was “not a positive meeting” … but Bond eventually provided some supporting funds for the project to continue work on statistics gathering and a business plan, and the MCWG was formed, Barnett explains.
After more meetings with the ministers, she says a surge of encouragement came when the committee met to present their case to Clark and asked “how do we get to yes.”
“The premier looked at the business plan, she looked at the positive attitude, and she said, “We are here to get you to ‘yes’.”
Bond and Clark gave their nod to approve the ferry at that meeting, about six weeks prior to the Sept. 6 public announcement, Barnett explains.
“I can honestly say the premier, and particularly minister Stone did a lot of work listening to me over the past two-and-a-half years, and everyone realized at the end of the day that this was an economic benefit to the province and the region, as a whole.”
The ferry route is expected to be up and running for summer 2018.
