You have to give them an A for effort, but after that, Coastal Link Ferries (CLF) gets a failing grade for communication and consultation.
CLF announced plans recently to try to commence commuter ferry service from the Sunshine Coast or, more specifically, from Hopkins Landing to Vancouver.
You may remember this is the same company that tried to start a service through Gibsons two years ago, but captain Ihab Shaker failed to negotiate a deal with the Gibsons Landing Harbour Authority. Since that failed try, Shaker has been running a service from Bowen Island to Vancouver.
He claims the service here will be reliable, efficient and a viable alternative to B.C. Ferries. He plans to launch the service from the dock at Hopkins on March 1.
But the one aspect that doomed his service plans here last time is the same aspect that will probably doom him again this time - a lack of consultation with politicians and, more importantly, the public.
In an e-mail sent out on Jan. 12, Shaker claimed, "working with the Sunshine Coast Regional District, we were able to secure docking at Hopkins Landing." That statement took directors at the board table aback, saying they had little or no consultation with Shaker. Staff have had talks with the captain, but how can you claim you have a deal in place when no such deal exists?A further point was brought up by West Howe Sound director Lee Turnbull, who at a recent SCRD meeting, stated many residents had concerns with the idea of a ferry using their area dock. Once again, there was no consultation with the residents, just big claims from Shaker saying there would be no problems - no problems with parking, with traffic or congestion. The ferry will just come in, pick up and drop off passengers and be on its way. Why are we having a hard time believing that?
We're also wondering who is going to drive to the B.C. Ferries terminal in Langdale, park and pay for their vehicle, then get on a bus or walk to the Hopkins Landing dock to take the Coastal Link vessel to Vancouver. By the time that ferry gets to Bowen then heads to Vancouver, the B.C. Ferries vessel will already be docking in Horseshoe Bay. Shaker's plans just don't hold water. He claims to be keen on talking to residents and politicians about his plans. If that were the case, why hasn't that already been done? Shaker is putting the cart before the horse again and it spells only one thing - more troubled waters for his operation here on the Coast.
