Latest news with #SilasWhite
CBC
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Premier Eby meets with Gibsons, Bowen Island mayors over B.C. Ferries frustrations
Premier David Eby met with the mayors of Gibsons and Bowen Island after the municipalities raised the alarm about what they say is a lack of service, communication and accountability from B.C. Ferries. Gibsons Mayor Silas White says the premier reassured them the province is aware of the problem.
CBC
14-05-2025
- CBC
B.C. Ferries neglecting ferry-dependent locals in favour of tourists, says Gibsons' mayor
Silas White, the mayor of Gibsons, responds to a BC Today caller from Salt Spring Island who says B.C. Ferries is not placing much importance on increasing service to small islands compared to routes from the B.C. mainland. White agrees with the caller and says the ferry corporation's messaging about improvements primarily targets tourists, when residents from ferry-dependent communities are the most concerned.
CBC
07-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Coastal mayors call on province to intervene amid ongoing B.C. Ferries disruptions
Social Sharing Anyone who takes B.C. Ferries regularly knows, at this point, that long weekend travel may not go as planned when using the ferry service. Vessels break down, sailings are delayed or cancelled, and long wait times are often the result— in some cases, even if you've booked a reservation. Two round-trip sailings from the Lower Mainland to the Sunshine Coast were cancelled over the Easter weekend after a vessel was brought in by tugboat due to a mechanical failure. "It's left residents and visitors to the island waiting hours to get on a ferry," Silas White, the mayor of Gibsons, B.C., told CBC's The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn. "Also, surprise cancellations ... leave visitors on the island stranded. And then folks on the mainland, whether it's our students or people that are at medical appointments or commuters stuck on the mainland are unable to get home." The years of unpredictability have prompted the mayors of Gibsons and Bowen Island, two coastal communities that rely on B.C. Ferries, to pen a letter to the province calling for action and accountability to ensure smooth sailing on critical routes. WATCH | Vessels out of service Easter weekend: B.C. Ferries says two ships out of commission for long weekend 20 days ago Duration 1:27 White said one of the biggest challenges is that there are a lot of entities that manage ferry service, and they often point fingers at one another. "If we have a major concern, whether it be missing an entire supplemental boat on a long weekend like we just had, or if we have just simply a minor concern like confusing signage or communications … there's no accountability," White said. First, there's the private company of B.C. Ferries itself, with a board of directors which oversees its operations. It also has a CEO, who "provides leadership and strategic direction." Then, there's the B.C. Ferry Authority, an independent, no-share capital corporation established and governed by the Coastal Ferry Act, responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of BC. Ferries in support of the public interest." Next, the B.C. Ferry Commission is the independent regulator of B.C. Ferries. Its job is to hold ferry service providers accountable for things like wage fares, capital projects and adhering to service contracts with the province. And finally, the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Transit is responsible for the transportation system across B.C. Confused yet? CBC News requested comment from each of the above entities. The ferry authority did not respond. The communications representative for the ferry commissioner said, "It is up to the government whether they want to include Commissioner [Eva] Hage in any discussions." In an emailed statement to CBC News, the ministry said it remains at "arms-length" from B.C. Ferries because it is a privately owned company. "It is our expectation that B.C. Ferries provides a reliable service that meets the needs of the communities they serve," the ministry said. B.C. Ferries efforts In an emailed statement to CBC News, a B.C. Ferries spokesperson said the company has been in touch with Leonard and White and plans to work on making the service more reliable. While cancellations and delays happen, the ferry service often points to its aging fleet as the reason for disruptions. Some of the ships are decades old. "The reality today is that we do not have enough spare vessels in the fleet to step in when something goes wrong, particularly during peak travel periods, so a single breakdown can ripple across multiple routes," the spokesperson said. WATCH | B.C. Ferries community feedback process goes digital: B.C. Ferries to replace community feedback process with digital model 5 months ago Duration 1:44 B.C. Ferries says a survey of 5,000 customers found more than 81 per cent would prefer engaging with the ferry operator digitally as opposed to the current method of advisory committees. But Diana Mumford, chair of the southern Sunshine Coast ferry advisory committee, says the digital model would exclude ferry users who are not online. B.C. Ferries has promised new vessels, although the commissioner only approved four of the five it requested. It announced upgrades at the Horseshoe Bay terminal, which serves people going to and from Bowen Island. In the long run, this is expected to help with passenger experience, but in the meantime, passengers are being told to expect construction on the terminal for "several years." The ferry service has also increased the number of walk-on passengers for select sailings to Snug Cove on Bowen Island to "help ease demand during peak periods, keep foot traffic flowing more smoothly through the terminal, and provide greater flexibility for customers." Bowen Island mayor Andrew Leonard isn't convinced it will help. "Even if passenger capacity increases, how meaningful is that if the ferries are running an hour to 90 minutes behind," he said. "If the underlying service is unreliable, not operating on schedule, and we're dealing with cancellations, I wonder how much of a benefit that's going to be." WATCH | Bowen Island residents demand answers from B.C. Ferries: Boaters demand answers after Bowen Island Ferry hits moored ships 3 months ago Duration 2:06 An investigation has been launched after the B.C. Ferries' vessel Queen of Capilano collided with moored boats at a private dock on Bowen Island on Sunday morning. As Belle Puri reports, the owner of one of the damaged boats fears it may never sail again. The letter, dated April 25, had not received a response as of May 6. The letter requests a written response by May 31. With the May long weekend just 10 days away, Leonard said municipalities are anxious. "We are anticipating some chaos."
Global News
26-04-2025
- Business
- Global News
Mayors of Gibsons and Bowen Island issue ‘urgent' demands on ferry reliability
The mayors of Gibsons and Bowen Island have written to British Columbia's premier demanding 'urgent action' on ferry reliability. The two communities are both heavily reliant on ferry service out of Horseshoe Bay, and have both dealt with recent headaches. On Monday, a vessel serving the Sunshine Coast route had mechanical problems that left passengers stranded for hours and resulted in multiple sailing cancellations and the deployment of water taxis. 2:39 Mechanical issue leaves BC Ferries passengers floating In February, Bowen Island went without ferry service for several days when its ferry dock was damaged in rough weather. Story continues below advertisement The company has also faced a recent litany of mechanical woes across vessels serving its major southern routes. 'We've had very severe ferry service issues, both on the Sunshine Coast and Bowen Island,' Gibsons Mayor Silas White told Global News. 'We've seen a deterioration of service on Bowen Island over the last number of years,' added Bowen Island Mayor Andrew Leonard. 1:51 Bowen Island ferry remains out of service 'Despite repeated attempts to get their attention, to see operational changes, to see capacity changes and to see them address the issues our residents are facing … we haven't gotten a meaningful response.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The mayors say Premier David Eby committed in 2023 to making BC Ferries a 'top priority,' but that they continue to deal with unreliable service that is affecting both residents' travel plans, health and livelihoods. Story continues below advertisement The letter makes four demands of the provincial government. The mayors want an 'accountable governance table' that would include local governments alongside BC Ferries leadership and regulators. They also want more transparency on BC Ferries operational data, including real-time and historic performance metrics, along with immediate service improvements on their two routes, including better vessel redundancy and a timeline for vessel and terminal upgrades. The mayors are also calling for the reinstatement of 'meaningful community engagement' to replace the disbanded Ferry Advisory Committee. 0:56 Queen of New Westminster ferry out of service until October Along with the demands, the mayors say they want a meeting with Eby and Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth. Global News is seeking comment from the provincial government. Story continues below advertisement BC Ferries is in the midst of launching a major vessel replacement program, with new diesel-battery hybrid ferries to replace the aging Queens of Alberni, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and Cowichan, which are the oldest major ships still in use. The company applied to procure five vessels, but the independent British Columbia Ferries Commissioner approved four. The company is aiming to have the first of the new vessels in service by spring 2029.
