Passengers won't come just because BC Ferries builds things

Dear editor,

Gord Macatee, BC Ferries commissioner, delivered his review of the Coastal Ferry Act in January 2012.

The report contained 24 major recommendations for government, BC Ferries, ferry users and other stakeholders, all intended to better balance the interests of ferry users with the financial sustainability of BC Ferries.

The review clearly indicated that all of the principle stakeholders will need to be part of the solution to achieve a ferry system that is both affordable and financially sustainable.

One area I want to focus on here is the decline in ridership statistics, which I gleaned from the BC Ferries website. The fiscal year ends on March 31.

For the 2010 fiscal year, total vehicles (on the entire BC Ferries system) was 8,252,489 and total passengers was 21,037,169. For 2011: 8,119,546 and 20,746,222; for 2012: 7,837,919 and 20,169,977 and for 2013: 7,748,743 vehicles and 19,919,096 passengers.

This is all occurring during a time of overall improvements in the economy. The obvious conclusion is that there is a problem with the strategies, management and running of  BC Ferries.

The model that BC Ferries seems to be using seems is something along the line of, "If we build and upgrade the ferries and terminals, they will come."

Well, wake up, BC Ferries — they are not coming but actually leaving in droves — half a million vehicles and over million passengers from some four years ago.

The current BC Ferries was created in 2003 but it is a monopoly in the true sense of the word. For example, with BC Hydro, we can find alternative sources of electricity: solar, generators or save/conserve electricity through various means.

The B.C. government fully subsidizes 14 inland (non-BC Ferries) routes and with some of those routes there are alternate routes people can choose to drive instead. However, with BC Ferries the only reasonable options (outside of flying) is to take the ferry and pay the ever-increasing prices or not to.

High ferry rates have reduced ridership. Rates are high because of the Cadillac service BC Ferries wants to provide. Management's past policies and decisions have resulted in taking on unsustainable debt.

That is the basic reason for the planned massive service cuts and expected to continue future rate increases.

They have no one to blame but themselves. If BC Ferries truly was providing a good service coupled with reasonable ferry rates, then the ridership should be going up, not down.

Ed Zirkwitz,

Royston

Published December 18, 2013 Comox Valley Record.

Those other Ottawa Senators...

       

From the Parliament of Canada Senate home page I discovered the following: Senators’ main jobs are to examine bills proposed by the Government. Bills in the Senate go through a similar process of debate as in the House of Commons, and a bill must pass the Senate before it can become law. Any senator may take part in the debate on a bill and propose amendments. In addition, senators may propose their own bills and initiate debates in the Chamber.   Senators also work in committees, that is, groups of 5 to 15 senators who focus on a specific policy area.

        Not included in the job description on their website is any reference to “an alternate source of entertainment to the other Ottawa Senators—that hockey team”.  In airport lounges and sports bars patrons may now flip channels to see which is the most exciting.   Whether it is in the House of Commons, the ‘red chamber’ or on the ice, the play is similar:  who is on defence, who is taking shots, who is on thin ice or who is checking whom against the boards?  But, alas, it appears nobody has been checking anybody.   The whole affair reminds me of what Sir Walter Scott said: “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”

          Now that three senators are up against the boards--possibly facing multiple game suspensions-- they are fighting back.  So the question becomes:  who is telling the truth and how much of the truth?  Should the Prime Minister’s Office seemingly have such power over the Senate, a separate body in a democratic country?  I think not. It is sad to see that our government leaders, in both Houses, involved in corruption and cover-up.  The shenanigans in the US Congress may have to take a back seat to us when this is all over.  Now is the time for us citizens of Canada to express our outrage to our Members of Parliament.

          This kind of entertainment comes at a cost.  The credibility of our leaders is in question.  They have been entrusted with so much responsibility, power and proper spending of taxpayers’ money.  History has shown us that when the citizenry of a country become complacent that, in a way we get what we deserve.  We deserve honest, credible, responsive government willing to serve the people.  IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU DESERVE  HONEST, CREDIBLE, RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT, TAKE UP YOUR PEN AND PAPER, DRAFT AN EMAIL, OR COMPOSE A TWEET TO YOUR MP AND PRIME MINISTER. DEMAND CHANGES THAT WILL BRING BACK OUR RESPECT FOR THOSE IN GOVERNMENT.  ARE YOU WILLING TO ?

At last, the job Senators are supposed to be doing revealed - Comox Valley Record November 5, 2013 http://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/opinion/letters/230557331.html … via @BlackPressMedia

Not Yet Ready for the Smart Meter

Dear editor,

Recently I was visited at home by a Corix contractor/employee because I have so far refused to have a smart meter installed at our residence.

This BC Hydro representative asked if I had any questions about smart meters and also to inform me regarding smart meters. To me it sounded more like a sales job to convince me to get one installed.

He told me things such as: Europe has had them for over 10 years, California installed three different ones and the one BC Hydro chose was the best of the bunch and this Itron model had no problems in California.

Of course, he did not inform me of negative stuff until I brought that up. He agreed with me that there have been wiring problems and fires here in B.C. but that all of them have been repaired at no cost to the home owner.

What about the electrical overcharges? Yes, those meters have been replaced and some of those higher charges are seasonal fluctuations.

Will we get higher evening rates such as exist in Ontario? No, because Ontario has to purchase extra electricity during peak times at higher rates.

What about the B.C. government and BC Hydro agreeing to pass legislation that bypassed public scrutiny (e.g. BC Utilities Commission)? Well, that’s politics.

He told me that I could not opt out of the installation initiative. I explained that recently B.C. politicians made it sound like we would not be forced to have one installed.

He told me that an election is coming. I told him that I would not accept a smart meter to be installed in my home until the BC Utilities Commission gives a positive review of the process and the safety of the meters.
>>>published March 13, 2013 in the Comox Valley Record<<<

Can We Change 137 Years of Bad History?

 Although the ‘Idle No More” movement seems now to be idle, it sparked nationwide debate and awareness recently regarding the plight of First Nations citizens as well as the difficulties that governments find themselves  in, politically and financially. A month or so ago the promised conflict resolution rhetoric was forefront but where is it now?  Most news stories last about 3 or so weeks and then it is time to move on to something new. Now that it is no longer in the news are things back to square one?

 Since the onset of the 1876 Indian Act Aboriginals and governments have been shackled into an often dysfunctional relationship, a relationship of government largesse, administrative abuse and a not so benevolent overseer. For Aboriginals this has resulted in dependency, complacency and confusion.  Both sides are locked into the blame game without coming up with any answers and actions. On the Aboriginal side with so many ‘players in the field’ (over 600 reserves) the Idle No More catalyst into nationwide debates  has revealed that not everyone can agree on many of the issues and resolutions except on perhaps two--- the Indian Act has to go and economic prosperity for Aboriginals would certainly go a long way. On the government side certain leaders have voiced in similar tones.  The Indian Act has marginalized over half a million Canadians into second-class citizens and will limit the economic growth of Canada.  Estimates of $ 500 billion of future resource related projects may hang in the balance. 

Over the next ten years some 400,000 aboriginals will be ready to enter the work place but today there is no evidence that a meaningful number of them can and will be trained to take advantage of the forecast chronic skills shortage.  To meet that need there is currently a strong focus to look outside the country, to immigrants for much of that skill set. It would be a shame not to take advantage of this opportunity now to start to undo 137 years of bad history.

(Published in the Comox Valley Record at http://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/opinion/letters/192391011.html )