Quote:
Originally Posted by Caliplanner1
I think that you really don't understand that the private sector is RELATIVELY fragile and thus cannot effectively deliver many CRITICAL (and expensive) services best left to government (which is driven by social equity concerns in economic development not narrow/myopic/self-serving money profit motives- in an economy subject to the debilitating forces of GROWING income inequality/attendant GROWING debt within the wider context of the long-run inflationary construct called the Time Value of Money).  |
The Governments of developed nations aren't much more stable, as seen in the Euro Crisis. In a fully private free market (ie not crony capitalism) there is never one point of failure. The production of smartphones doesn't stop because Samsung can't make them anymore.
If a monopoly or government fails to deliver or goes underwater in debt (like so may governments around the world nowadays), there is no backup. Which is why it's a bad idea to leave critical services to government if possible. We don't leave food production (one of the most critical services) to the government, we leave it to the private sector. And aside from price inflation, it's remained relatively stable.
Anyways, back to ferries. The most optimal solution would be for the government to take $$$ from infrastructure funds to build a Sunshine Coast fixed link across Bowen Island to relieve capacity in Horseshoe Bay to allow modernization upgrades.
Or spend it on a new "fast link" Iona Island Terminal to Gabriola Island and a bridge from Gabriola to Nanaimo- it would clear up Nanaimo City congestion, and possibly save $$$ on the long run by using fewer terminals, ferries, and a shorter link. The problem being the lack of will on the Gulf Island side, and the fact that Sturgeon Bank is a protected area.
Or even just move Bowen Island and Langdale services to a second, small terminal near Sea-to-Sky, leaving Horseshoe Bay solely for Nanaimo.
The last is the worst, but probably cheapest option. Also, I'd rather they finance this by cutting their own wages and management than raising prices and cutting services again. It's already bad as it is.
Or cut the new George Massey Bridge from 10 to 8 or 6 lanes. I know "future thinking" and all, but the most congested bridge in Canada couldn't fill 10 lanes. Especially tolled.
We can expand it later if transit won't cut it.