VICTORIA – As the Labour Day weekend arrives, the Belleville Ferry Terminal that welcomes many tourists to Victoria is marking 10 years of stagnation under the B.C. Liberals, say New Democrats.Rob Fleming

“It is disgraceful that the B.C. Liberals have let this property languish for so long. The site was re-zoned for development before the B.C. Liberals took power but sits untouched a decade later, with the same temporary buildings and inadequate facilities to welcome visitors to the provincial capital,” said Rob Fleming , New Democrat MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake.

“The B.C. Liberals have failed to invest in this critical tourism asset and the gateway to Victoria,” said Fleming. “It’s difficult to understand how they can ignore it – it’s right across the street from the legislature.

“This is part of a pattern of neglect in the region – the B.C. Liberals failed to come forward with a funding commitment for the Johnson Street bridge, they failed to move ahead with commuter rail along the E&N corridor, and they are neglecting this vital terminal that welcomes a million people to Victoria each year.”

Fleming met with the president and CEO of both Clipper Navigation and Black Ball Ferry Line on Friday to highlight the issue and call on the government to take action.

“We’ll work with anyone we can to help create a positive working environment to get this project going,” said Darrell Bryan, president and CEO of Clipper Navigation. “This terminal represents a critical first impression of Victoria and of British Columbia to nearly a million visitors every year. We have to make a better impression.”

The province took ownership of the Belleville Terminal in 2000, and the outdated site was comprehensively re-zoned for development at the same time.

The Carole James New Democrats are working with British Columbians from all walks of life, all corners of B.C., and all sectors of our economy to build a better British Columbia for the people of this province.

Rob Fleming

Victoria-Swan Lake

Rob Fleming was elected on May 17, 2005 as the MLA for Victoria-Hillside, and re-elected on May 12, 2009 as the MLA for the re-configured consti