With the quashing of the ferry advisory committee (FAC) system, we have to ask: has someone been tampering with the navigation system at BC Ferries?
FAC members were advised without warning last Monday of their committees’ demise set for the end of April 2025. An online meeting of the 13 FAC chairs from ferry-dependent communities was scheduled with BC Ferries (BCF) for that day, but the future of those bodies was not on the agenda.
Besides acting unprofessionally in not consulting with FAC chairs before deciding to pull the plug, we believe the corporation is making a fundamental error in judgement. BCF states that it wants to develop “a new engagement model that better addresses the evolving needs of growing coastal communities, reflecting the importance of more effectively incorporating digital engagement.” From that statement it’s hard to glean exactly what BCF is seeking. If it wants public input that is instructive, reasoned and useful, simply hearing more opinions from more people online is not going to achieve that goal.
A FAC’s main purpose is not to be a conduit of public opinion, but a body where solutions to mainly operational problems could be worked out with BCF staff, individuals with expertise, and reps of local government and other groups sitting around the same table.
With a Covid-forced break from in-person FAC meetings and high turnover in middle-upper management staff at BC Ferries, it’s understandable that many do not know how well the FAC system has worked in the past. BCF still appreciated it in 2022 when it posted articles featuring FAC chairs and areas FACs had assisted with. Those included “the complex use of Southern Gulf Islands (SGI) ferry service; developing new schedules for two-ship service for Gabriola and Quadra islands; adjusting and communicating service and schedule changes during pandemic recovery; and providing early input on terminal development plans.” The well-used thru-fare system giving priority off-loading to people travelling to Salt Spring and the SGI from Tsawwassen via Swartz Bay also grew from FAC efforts.
Trying to improve something as complex as our ferry system requires more than ideas coming from head office seeking reactions from people on a social media platform; or just broadly asking those same people what they think or want. Ferry users can already provide feedback at any time to BCF, with or without using a FAC member.
We urge BCF to get back on track and reconsider its decision to throw the FAC system overboard.