Posted by John Rustad
October 10, 2024

BACKGROUNDER

BC Ferries: A Critical Link

BC Ferries is a lifeline for Vancouver Island and coastal communities, playing a crucial role in connecting these regions to the rest of British Columbia. 

For many British Columbians, BC Ferries is a vital service that enables them to commute, conduct business, and sustain livelihoods. It provides access to essential services like jobs, healthcare, and goods, while also offering the opportunity to enjoy and explore the breathtaking landscapes that make this part of the province so special.

A reliable and efficient ferry service is vital to maintaining the socio-economic fabric of BC, ensuring our island and coastal communities remain vibrant and connected. However, ferry performance under the NDP has been unacceptable, failing to address key operational issues to meet the needs of those who depend on the service.

The Conservative Party of BC is committed to ensuring that BC Ferries operates in the best interest of its users. Our plan is focused on improving the fiscal and operational performance of BC Ferries, delivering timely, reliable, and cost-effective services that coastal communities deserve. 

 

It’s About Accountability: How the BC Conservatives Will Fix BC Ferries

  • Hold the BC Ferry Authority accountable: We will ensure that coastal communities have a strong voice in ferry operations. A BC Ferries Charter will be established to clearly outline the performance and service expectations of the Ferry Authority. Should they fail to meet these expectations, we will seek new leadership capable of delivering the reliable and timely service residents depend on.
  • Hold management accountable Coastal residents deserve dependable service. We will tie a portion of executive compensation to performance metrics, ensuring that BC Ferries’ leadership is directly accountable for meeting service delivery commitments.
  • Help frequent users: Many coastal and island residents are travelling regularly for work. We will consult with commuters and other frequent users to design a monthly flat-fee program or other measures that will improve certainty and reduce the hassle of frequent ticket purchases.
  • Secure federal support: The federal government provides support to major infrastructure projects across the country, and BC’s ferry infrastructure should be no exception. We will fight for BC’s fair share of federal support for fleet modernization and infrastructure improvements.
  • Explore innovative technology including small electric autonomous and semi-autonomous ferries for walk-on passengers, which are operating successfully in Europe and have the potential to improve service on shorter routes with high walk-on demand.
  • End the bottlenecks: Critical routes such as Horseshoe Bay, Departure Bay, and Tsawwassen have long been over-capacity, with no meaningful action from the BC NDP. We will direct the Ferry Authority to resolve these issues and require public reporting on solutions and timelines.

 

Fleet renewal and expansion

The BC Ferries fleet is aging to such an extent that maintenance challenges are routinely impacting service quality. Beyond the current procurement process for 5 new major vessels, BC Ferries has indicated a need for at least 2 additional major vessels to meet growing demand.

As a result of a historic federal government contract in 2011, BC now has an established major shipbuilding industry – unlike in previous decades. A sophisticated supply chain is now in place, which includes 550 BC companies and thousands of skilled workers.

To consider the total picture of benefits to British Columbians, procurement for the 2 additional vessels as well as future needs should evaluate domestic content scenarios – within a fully competitive and open procurement process that protects taxpayers and secures the best vessels possible. The Conservative Party of BC will:

  • Renew the BC Ferries fleet with open and competitive procurement processes.
  • Introduce domestic content scenarios to RFPs so decision makers can evaluate bids for scenarios with and without BC suppliers, to ensure that the full extent of potential benefits to British Columbians are being evaluated alongside lowest-bid scenarios.

 

Ferries for the future

The Conservative Party of BC is committed to transforming BC Ferries into a world-class, efficient, and reliable marine transportation service. 

By addressing the operational and governance mismanagement under the NDP, we will ensure that BC Ferries remains a critical service that coastal communities can depend on for generations to come.