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VICTORIA — If you were stuck in a long line at a crowded B.C. Ferries terminal this summer, or squeezed onto a ship during the Labour Day long weekend, it will come as no surprise to hear that British Columbia is seeing a record number of passengers and drivers on its ferries this year.

Vehicle traffic was at the highest level ever seen during April, May and June, according to a new B.C. Ferries’ quarterly financial report.

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That’s good news for a ferry corporation that just a few years ago was grappling with dwindling ridership and sailing reductions on certain routes.

But record ridership does not necessarily translate into record profits. B.C. Ferries’ net earnings were only $6 million this quarter, compared to $17.3 million during the same period last year.

How can the ferry corporation transport more people, but earn less? One of the main reasons is the anchor that has dragged down profit-margins at B.C. Ferries for decades now: political interference.