Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith has sent a letter imploring Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to consider opportunities to reinstate the Sidney-Anacortes ferry service as soon as possible.
The letter outlined how the ferry service boosts the regional economy.
“The absence of these travellers continues to be felt by the region’s business community,” McNeil-Smith wrote in the letter. “Visitors taking this route to Vancouver Island would arrive on Sidney’s waterfront just a few blocks south of our downtown commercial core. Local hotels, restaurants, and shops were sustained in part by the flow of visitors from Washington state.”
The letter was written with the help of feedback from WSANEC representatives, who highlighted the importance of the ferry route.
“While the international border creates a barrier through the traditional territory of Coast Salish people, for decades Washington State Ferries has helped bridge this gap,” McNeil-Smith wrote. “The ferry makes it feasible for Samish and WSANEC people to attend ceremonies, maintain relationships, access work opportunities and practice their culture together. Reinstating this ferry route in a timely manner is an achievable way Washington state can support the well-being of Coast Salish people and their cultural preservation efforts.”
Washington State Ferries provides the service through a lease and operating agreement that extends into 2031. The agency said in February that the ferry does not expect to be able to resume service until 2030 at the earliest due to a vessel shortage.
READ MORE: BC Ferries to add 95 extra sailings over May long weekend
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