B.C. Ferries has decided to take charge of appointing committee members to the 12 provincial Ferry Advisory Committees (FAC) themselves rather than through the existing public process. The impetus behind the change, said Rob Clarke, executive vice president/chief financial officer of B.C. Ferries, is to make sure that the FACs are comprised of citizens from all viewpoints on the Coast, not just commuters.
"This committee is all commuters. Where is the representation from businesses, B&Bs, the camps?" asked Clarke during the southern Sunshine Coast FAC meeting in Gibsons Tuesday morning.
Ed Steeves, chair for the local FAC, asked Clarke, "Who owns the committee?" to which most of the B.C. Ferries representatives at the round table chimed in simultaneously, "We do."
Steeves challenged back. "We own it on behalf of the community," he said, to which Clarke responded, "B.C. Ferries owns this process."
B.C. Ferries started FACs in the mid-90s as a way to include the voice of those who use the ferry system on a regular basis.
Clarke was clear at Tuesday's meeting in reminding the southern Sunshine Coast FAC that the committee is purely advisory. "This is not a governing committee. B.C. Ferries has established the FACs to ensure a good cross section of people on the committees," he said. "There is no statute saying FACs need to exist. B.C. Ferries wants them and public input."
Committee members were visibly upset by the appointment change. Pat Barber, a three-year committee member said, "How can you be in a position to choose people when none of you live here?"
Clarke answered another accusation that B.C. Ferries wants to choose committee members who will go with the flow rather than challenge B.C. Ferries and work to achieve the community's needs.
"I don't want a lot of yes men. We want constructive criticism," Clarke said.
"Do you know how many ideas have been put forward [to B.C. Ferries] and how many have been acted on? It's in the single digits," added Steeves.
Clarke refuted that statement.
"I think we've done better than that," Clarke said.
The action plan, as outlined by B.C. Ferries' Amar Johal, begins this summer. Current committee members who wish to continue with their FAC need to write a letter of intention to Dan Wong, vice president of corporate relations. In the fall of 2008, a public notice will go out inviting others to consider the appointment and send their letters of interest. B.C. Ferries is looking to fill the four to 10 member positions on each committee with people who represent combinations of customers, First Nations and stakeholder interests. This includes local governments, students, seniors, commercial and economic interests like the Chamber of Commerce, tourism and other community groups and organizations.
The contenders will then be reviewed by B.C. Ferries who will "as a courtesy" review the potential appointments with the four local government administrators on the Coast. According to B.C. Ferries, this is to ensure there are no major omissions in representation.
Commencement of the new FACs will begin in early 2009.The FAC appointment process will be up on the B.C. Ferries website at www.bcferries.com in a couple of weeks for anyone wanting more information.
