B.C. Ferry commissioner Gordon Macatee heard concerns from his largest audience yet at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre Sept. 7, as more than 100 Coasters dependent on the ferry system came to voice their opinions.
Their ideas for change included lowering fares, deprivatizing the ferry service, improving connectivity between the ferries and transit service, improving on-time performance, giving boarding preference to handicapped people and emergency personnel, expanding the definition of what constitutes a medical need for travel, predictable ferry schedules, better customer service and better management of the ferry corporation's capital program.
Under Bill 20, Macatee was tasked with considering users' interests before making his final decision on a possible B.C. Ferries price cap, which was formerly the only duty of the commissioner.
"It's very prescriptive. You put numbers into a pot, stir them around, and out comes a result," Macatee said of the price cap formula.
The result of the formula this year was a proposed price cap increase of 8.23 per cent a year for four years for the minor and northern routes and a 4.12 per cent cap per year for the major routes, which includes Route 3 (Horseshoe Bay to Langdale).
But that proposed price cap didn't take into account the new legislation.
"So in 2010, something changed that was very important. There was a new piece of legislation passed that required the ferry commission to consider the interests of ferry users," Macatee said to laughter and applause from the packed audience. "It's an interesting idea that has come along a little late in the game."
But Macatee explained the problem with the legislation is that it was never defined.
"Given how formulaic legislation is, there isn't really a lot of room for the commission to make any other decisions than the ones that come out as a result of the formulas that are in the Act," Macatee said. "So we felt it was important before we were faced with making a four-year decision around price cap increases as high as the ones I just mentioned and also coming on the heels of some very high increases over the last few years, to get clarification on exactly what the interests of ferry users are and how we would consider them and what we would do with our consideration, so that it would result in a different outcome that would be more in line with people's expectations."
With that in mind, Macatee wrote to Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom and was granted one year to compile the information needed to make his decision.
"What we didn't want was to be doing a review that would produce recommendations for change after the decision had to be made. So the legislation gave us a year," Macatee said, noting the legislation also imposed a one-year price cap of 4.1 per cent on all routes while he makes his determination. "Then we'll step in afterwards, based on what comes out of this review, and make the final three-year determination."
After Macatee explained his role at the meeting, speaker after speaker lamented the cost of the ferry service that has risen significantly and steadily over the years.
Seniors said they felt as if they have been held hostage by ferry fares that have risen enough to limit the number of trips they can take to see family off-Coast.
"And my family can't come to see me because it's too expensive for them to come here. If they have a child who is 11 years old, then they have to pay an adult fare, which is just ludicrous," one woman said.
Jef Keighley spoke on behalf of the Sunshine Coast Senior Citizens group and he echoed those remarks. He also threw out another tag line that would be brought up often -the ferries should be an extension of our highway.
People told personal stories of frustrations dealing with B.C. Ferries' wait times, rude treatment from personnel and a lack of accountability from the ferry corporation.
By far the two loudest and most common complaints were about the increasing cost for service and the need to treat the system as an essential service, shifting it back into the hands of government.
Macatee also met with politicians and ferry advisory committee members before Wednesday's meeting at the community centre.
Sechelt Mayor Darren Inkster, Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk, Sechelt Indian Band Chief Garry Feschuk, and representatives of Powell River - Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons, West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country MP John Weston and the SCRD were at the meeting to voice their concerns.
The same issues were brought up at that meeting, as well as a request for lower fares for youth sports teams that must travel to compete in the Lower Mainland.
Inkster said he felt the commissioner heard the concerns and took them seriously, and Janyk said the group "had a great discussion on a multitude of issues."
If you would like to add your comments, Macatee is still accepting written submissions. You can send your comments to [email protected].
