The mother of a Haida Gwaii student is asking BC Ferries to offer a break as her son heads off to university in the fall.
Christine Martynuik emailed BC Ferries asking the company to implement a fare that makes travel to Vancouver Island post-secondary institutions not only more affordable but safer.
"For us living here, the expenses are considerable as it is never an option to live at home while pursuing post-secondary education. I was shocked to learn that BC Ferries has no student fares and that he will have to pay tourist price to make his way down from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy on his way to Victoria. I realize he could go by road all the way around the province; as a mother I don't want my 17-year-old driving 1,200 kilometres on a long weekend," she wrote.
"To me, BC Ferries is a service for British Columbians. I am asking you to please help us out. Is there anything you can do, even just doing the off-peak fare for students needing your services?"
BC Ferries public affairs manager Darin Guenette notes there are student fares for those travelling for school events, and said any further discount programs are out of their hands.
"The student discount, the senior discount and the medical travel discount are all for a certain reason and are part of provincial policy. Although it is our operation, the government funds BC Ferries for administering these programs ... BC Ferries still gets the revenue of a full fare," he said.
"The discounts are a policy decision, we just administer them."