“Post-protest, there’s much more on BC Ferries’ plate
By Bruce Mason, Gabriola Sounder
Monday, March 17 2008
In the wake of the million dollar, two-year investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada into the sinking of the Queen of the North there is growing awareness that BC Ferries Corp. has fundamental problems shrouded in secrecy.
The failure to account for the 14 minutes that led to the running aground is little surprise to Gabriolans who still wonder what happened during the so-called “Unexpected Departure” of the MV Quinsam, last January.
The Queen of the North incident however, led to loss of life and inevitable massive lawsuits that will keep the corporation in the minds of an outraged public and on the front pages for some time to come, adding more fuel to the fire that is sparked by ongoing skyrocketing fares and a colossal failure to communicate.
One of BC’s premier lawyers, Peter Ritchie said: “It’s a feeble effort from a toothless organization; they would have been better to stay in Ottawa and shovel snow. There damn well should be a public inquiry. They should be cross-examined by lawyers with sharp knives.”
In coastal communities there are a flotilla of unanswered questions and rising concerns about the current state and future direction of BC Ferries.
Gary Coon, NDP ferry critic, told the Sounder what he discovered during an extensive tour of hard-hit west-coast communities: “As fares go up exponentially, and ridership goes down there has to be a breaking point for our ferry system.
“Those who rely on ferries as an essential service continue to be abandoned by this government and there must be someone to step back and say this isn’t working. We need accountability from the minister responsible and that begins with reviewing the Coastal Ferry Act and stopping the wholesale sell-off of our marine highway.
“We were promised stable and affordable fares,” he added. “This government broke the key social and economic contract with ferry dependent communities, putting them at risk.”
Gabriola protest organizer Veronica Hartman said: “I went to the meeting in Nanaimo last week hosted by Leonard Krog with Carole James and Gary Coons. It was informative. I learned about what Nanaimo users of the ferries are going through, but are not yet as passionate as Gabriolans.
“I want to tell you that the Gabriola ferry protest was essential and that it’s the beginning of a long process of making the government recognize us AGAIN,” she continued.
“This situation with unfair fare increases seems to happen every 10 years, no matter which government is in power. I guess we are an easy target,” Hartman added. “What was truly inspiring was there was a good number of 25 to 30 year olds, born to Gabriolans, who are now taking part in voicing their concerns. It’s been a hard slog to get them interested in issues that affect them.”
There is a growing chorus of dissatisfaction including BC Ferries and Marine Workers Union warnings of dangerous debt that will be borne in large part by passengers. And there is increasing evidence that ferry issues will figure prominently in politics as plain as the fancy new decals on the German-made ferries and signs of a very, very hard slog ahead for BC Ferries.
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