Whereas Vancouver Island food production is both a insecure due to dependence on off-island processing facilities and the requirement to import feed, fertilizer and seed, and b of extreme importance to the well-being and safety of island inhabitants due to the fragility of the food distribution system and high cost of food; And whereas access to mainland markets and processing facilities remains the only economically viable alternative for some livestock and agricultural commodities and they can only be shipped through BC Ferries, and having to wait in ferry queues without access to water and feed causes significant amounts of stress on livestock in the transit process and causes some agricultural commodities to spoil; And whereas overland shipping delays to ferry terminals can occur due to circumstances beyond producers control, such as road closures, which negates their ability to depend on reservations: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that BC Ferries reinstate priority boarding for livestock and agricultural products at all ferry terminals.
