A routine meet and greet turned into an opportunity to discuss the ferry commissioner's report when B.C. Ferries CEO Mike Corrigan visited the Sunshine Coast last week.
Corrigan set up the Jan. 30 meeting with Sechelt Mayor John Henderson and Gibsons Mayor Wayne Rowe shortly after being named the new CEO.
"When I was announced as new president and CEO, I wanted to set up some meetings and meet the mayors. I think it's an important part of what we do, obviously," Corrigan said. "It's important to get a dialogue going, especially just after an election - so, kind of, new mayors and new CEO - it was good timing, I thought."
The mayors took the opportunity to discuss some of the findings in the recent commissioner's report and drive home the needs of local ferry users.
The need for more affordable youth fares, a year-round 5:30 p.m. sailing for commuters, youth sport team discounts, the proposed reservation system and overall fare affordability made their way to the top of the mayors' lists.
"I felt Mr. Corrigan was listening and that he wants to hear what our issues are, but within the current model there's only so much room they have to manoeuvre," Rowe said.
Henderson agreed, noting he had some insight into the role of the CEO from his time on the board of directors for B.C. Ferries.
"[Corrigan's] role, and this is something I think the community needs to understand, his role is to manage the operation of B.C. Ferries. The decision on fares, on how much we all pay, is really dictated by what the provincial government provides in the way of subsidies," Henderson said. "So if we want to have improvements in the operation, if there's some creative ways to be more efficient, if we want different sailing schedules, those are things Mr. Corrigan can address."
Henderson pitched one idea to Corrigan that would involve setting up an electronic sign in Sechelt that could show real time information on the Earls Cove ferry, how full it is and if it's running on time.
"Let's provide it on a highway sign somewhere down here so as people are racing off the ferry in Langdale and rushing to get to Powell River, if they know they've got time then they'll take a little more time to get there and maybe they stop here in Sechelt and have lunch and visit some of the shops," Henderson said.
On the issue of fare affordability, Corrigan said the provincial government would have to help.
"I'm sure there are people who are thinking there's a lot of cost cutting that can be done at Ferries to help with the issue of fare affordability. Well, I'm here to tell you we're doing everything we can, but we can't cut below the safety line," he said. "So it's really going to require a combination of government service fee increases or subsidy, as some people call them, in conjunction with some reasonable service level reductions where it makes sense," Corrigan said.
Corrigan also met with members of the local ferry advisory committee.
Committee chair Barry Cavens said they thanked Corrigan for the chairs recently placed in the overhead walkway at Horseshoe Bay, noting the lack of a spot to stop and rest in that walkway has been an issue for those who have difficulty walking.
Then the group talked about fares, cut off times and processes in Horseshoe Bay, the importance of the commuter sailing, Langdale terminal enhancements for those with disabilities, better access to the Langdale waiting room and the importance of the ferry advisory committee in bringing forward local issues.
Cavens said, "The meeting was very useful in familiarizing the new B.C. Ferries CEO with matters that affect the Lower Sunshine Coast."
Corrigan said he appreciated meeting with the mayors and the advisory committee and he hopes everyone will work together as items from the commissioner's report are implemented.
"I really believe we're all starting to realize that we're all in this together and we have to come up with a common solution for Ferries so it can be successful for the next 50 years just like it was for the last 50 years," Corrigan said, noting the commissioner's report confirms the company has been operating well within the guidelines laid out for them.
"There are no silver bullets here because if there were, they would already be fired out of the gun by now."
Sunshine Coast Regional District Chair Garry Nohr was unable to meet with Corrigan when he was on the Coast because the same day Nohr was in Victoria meeting with ferry commissioner Gordon Macatee along with nine other coastal regional district chairs.
He brought the same kinds of concerns to Macatee and said he got the same message to bring concerns around fares to government.
"Our process now is to see the transportation minister and the premier with a brief paper that we're going to put together," Nohr said. "We hope that each area will be able to present something on local concerns too, to point out what the problems are in the different areas and to get some answer to them."
Nohr is unsure when that meeting will be but the group of 10 coastal regional district chairs hopes it happens soon.
"We hope it's sooner rather than later because if the caucus decides to put what was recommended by the commissioner in place, how they put it in place and what they put in place is a concern to us," he added.
