by Nicholas Simons I hope everyone is able to enjoy the beautiful weather, festivals, events and fun here on the Sunshine Coast this summer.
After years of intensive lobbying by local and first nation governments, by individuals, businesses, societies, agencies and by the official opposition, the provincial government has begun to realize what every single resident of the Sunshine Coast has known for a long time: the Liberal Party’s political experiment with BC Ferries has failed. It has forced people to move away from the Sunshine Coast, it has prevented people from visiting, it has made businesses suffer, and it has generally caused a lot of hardship.
The government made changes to BC Ferries through the Coastal Ferries Act, legislation that eliminated the need to consider the impact of the service on individuals and communities. They acted like they knew what they were doing, but it is a clear example of public policy failure. The fleet is smaller than it was in 2003; fares have gone up higher and faster than ever; the two new German-built ships are gas guzzlers and used minimally; the company is widely ridiculed for lavish advertising for a monopoly and criticized for exorbitant management salaries.
BC Ferries justifies expensive and exclusive lounges and spa services along with regular discounts on the big routes, and allows broken elevators, asbestos, no service for days, porta-potties, cracked deck-plates, mouldy life jackets, eight-hour voyages, and faulty and rarely-tested evacuation platforms to remain on the smaller ones.
How has your life/work been impacted by the Coastal Ferries Act? BC Ferry Commissioner Gord Macatee is visiting us on the Sunshine Coast in September to ask you that question. Precisely, his task is to “look into the price cap model and assess its impact on the affordability of future ferry fares and the sustainability of coastal communities that depend on ferries for travel and commerce.” He will hold public meetings, so all are encouraged to attend.
The Coastal Ferries Act of 2003, which created the David Hahn empire, was debated for only five hours by three members of the legislative assembly (MLAs), not even our own. We can’t blame Hahn for the rise in fares, or for his exorbitant salary and bonuses, and we can’t blame former commissioner Martin Crilley for approving fare increases; all this was made possible by the Coastal Ferries Act. The entire cabinet, most of whom are still sitting around the same cabinet table, made a political decision to outsource the mismanagement of BC Ferries. The commissioner’s visit is a welcome event.
Your actions are very much appreciated in talking to your neighbours, co-workers, friends and family about BC Ferries, for attending the Town Hall in Gibsons or the rally in Powell River, for sending over 2,000 letters to the minister(s) responsible, to the opposition critic and to the commissioner. A good turnout for the meetings in September will help convince government to listen to our concerns. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer.
Nicholas Simons is MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. He is also New Democratic Party shadow cabinet’s Community Living BC critic and deputy social development and housing critic.
