Fiscal Mismanagement Finally Comes Home To Roost?
Those of us who depend on the BC Ferries as much as we depend on the Island Highway are always sensitive to any rate increases or service reductions the corporation says are needed to keep their house in order.
Currently the corporation is scrambling to find nearly $20 million to cut from their operations. I presume it is actually the B.C. Transportation Ministry that is wielding the axe but it is up to B.C. Ferries to find the savings.
The proposed savings will have a definite impact on Nanaimo and it's neighbour, Gabriola Island as a total of 834 annual sailings will be cut on the Nanaimo - Gabriola run. There will no longer be any ferries after 9:00 pm and the first morning sailing on the weekends will be cancelled. This will no doubt impact downtown Nanaimo, as Gabriola residents will have to catch a ferry by 9:00 pm which curtails any 'night on the town' activities such as dinner and a show.
If you are a senior who used to enjoy a free ferry ride Mon. - Thurs. you will now have to cough up 50% of the fare as the corporation looks to find another $6 million in extra income.
Few details are being made available but there are rumblings that one of the Nanaimo ferry terminals may also be on the chopping block as well. Between the two terminals it would look like Departure Bay could be the one to get the axe, although nothing definite has been announced other than they are looking to find more efficiencies on the Nanaimo - Vancouver runs.
Just the Times or Poor Management?
It is likely a combination of the two and I suspect the money spent on the ocean liner class ferries brought in during Mr. Hahn's reign and the cost of borrowing to finance those improvements are still being felt today.
That combined with rising fuel costs, declining ridership, increased overhead (evidenced by overly generous wage and bonus packages) have all combined to create the massive headache having to now be dealt with.
Whether this reality is unique to B.C. Ferries or is symptomatic of how we have generally been spending well beyond our limit is a conclusion only time will tell. When will city hall finally hit the wall when the taxpayer simply can't absorb any more increases? Good question, one you should ask your city councilor as they are coming into another round of budgeting.
Close Departure Bay terminal,expand Duke Point to handle the Horseshoe Bay run, and put in a passenger only ferry. This would let Nanaimo get on with residential and commercial development from Brechin road to Townsite road. The ferry crossing from Duke Point to Horseshoe Bay would be unobstructed for the ferry Captains, unlike trying to navigate around New castle Island. A passenger only ferry run by B.C. Ferries from the Gabriola terminal in Nanaimo to the Sea Bus terminal in Vancouver could easily be put into place.
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