We urge the government of BC to dissolve the BC Ferries Corporation as a for-profit entity, and return it to the people of British Columbia by once again having it operate as a part of the Ministry of Highways. We demand a return to the original vision of the ferry system as articulated by WAC Bennett: The ferries are an extension of the highway system, and belong to all British Columbians.
We urge the government of BC to dissolve the BC Ferries Corporation as a for-profit entity, and return it to the people of British Columbia by once again having it operate as a part of the Ministry of Highways. We demand a return to the original vision of the ferry system as articulated by WAC Bennett: The ferries are an extension of the highway system, and belong to all British Columbians.
We the undersigned, urge the government of BC to dissolve the BC Ferries Corporation as a for-profit entity, and return it to the people of British Columbia by once again having it operate as a part of the Ministry of Highways. We respectully demand a return to the original vision of the ferry system as articulated by WAC Bennett: The ferries are an extension of the highway system, and belong to all British Columbians.
We signed the "Return BC Ferries to the BC Ministry of Highways" petition!
# 553:
10:15 am PDT, Mar 23,Name not displayed, United Kingdom
# 552:
9:11 pm PST, Feb 11,Matt Barry, Canada
# 551:
5:54 pm PST, Feb 4,Name not displayed, Canada
I support the privatization of BC Ferries. Furthermore I hold the NDP government of the past responsible for the hardships on the company now. Every day I wake up and stare at those 'pride of the NDP' fast cat ferries, still sitting useless, a monument to socialist government rhetoric and corruption.
# 550:
4:22 am PST, Jan 28,Name not displayed, Canada
Ever since privatization, I have noticed a marked decline in the condition of the ferries. Bathrooms are not repaired, televisions (not that I approve of televisions in kid's areas anyway) go broken for months and months. Yesterday, my three year old daughter was leaning against a wall in a bathroom stall and I noticed the wall was bouncing. Why? Screws had fallen out and had not been replaced. If this is how the exterior of the ship is maintained, I can only imagine the state of the engine. Of course, we all know there have been failures there. And the prices, well, clearly this is no longer a public service. Yet communities need public services. It does not make sense for profit driven organizations to be charged with providing necessary services. Profit driven organizations want to make profits. They cut corners to save money, not caring whether customers (heavily dependent upon them) are well served, only caring how little they can provide for how much. What has happened with BC Ferries is an excellent example of this.
# 549:
1:30 pm PST, Jan 15,Kirby Jinnah, Canada
# 548:
1:35 pm PST, Jan 14,Name not displayed, Canada
It is ludicrous that the ferries are run by a bunch of hevyweight executives. Then they talk cuts and want to cut at the bottom, perhaps they need to cut at the top first. There are way too many managers in this company.
# 547:
12:55 pm PST, Jan 14,Name not displayed, Canada
# 546:
12:18 pm PST, Jan 14,Name not displayed, Canada
Return to the Corp!
# 545:
1:55 am PST, Jan 2,Name not displayed, Canada
# 543:
3:05 pm PST, Jan 1,Brian Oakley, Canada
# 542:
12:46 pm PST, Dec 30,Paul Longden, Canada
Privatising Public Services has never worked. The Ferries are there for the people. They are core support to outlying communities. The ferries are the Islands' only legitimate lifeline. Ask the workers if the ferries are better off as they are now, or as they were before 'privatisation.'
# 541:
8:59 pm PST, Dec 14,William Robinson, Canada
I was especially displeased at our trip over to Victoria in one of the new ferries. They must have saved a bundle by reducing the number of windows but this and the cheap finishings on everything have turned what should be a great tourist event into what feels like a claustrophobic 1950's city bus ride.
# 540:
12:10 am PST, Dec 11,Nelson Zado, Canada
# 539:
7:34 pm PST, Dec 7,Sidney Allinson, Canada
# 538:
5:41 pm PST, Dec 6,Allegra Mills, Canada
Our ferries are vital-our highway link to the mainland. We have a right to regular service. We would not shut down the second narrows or upper levels when traffic is low.
Return BC Ferries to the Ministry of Highways and restore our ferry service to the levels we had in the 1960's.
# 537:
6:59 am PST, Dec 6,Name not displayed, Canada
The islands off BC'x coast were an extension of the mainland. Now they appear to be a luxury destination where only the rich will be able to live. The ferries should be considered a Toll highway and treated as such. The same should go for highways on the mainland. They should be paid for by the users and not the pedestrians. If all roads were paid for based on use, the cost of the ferries would be considerably less.
# 536:
6:39 pm PST, Dec 3,Koree Rogers, Canada
# 535:
1:37 pm PST, Dec 2,Carolynn Browton, Canada
# 534:
1:52 pm PST, Nov 27,Bob Wood, Canada
# 533:
7:07 pm PST, Nov 25,David Moore, Canada
Please repeal the Coastal Ferries Act. Return the service to the government with proper regulation to prevent abuses.
# 532:
12:36 pm PST, Nov 25,Emily Lair, Canada
# 531:
9:26 pm PST, Nov 24,P Flannagan, Canada
The ferries are a vital link to our coastal communities. They are part of the culture of living in the Gulf islands and belong to the province just like highways, schools, hospitals and natural resources should.
# 530:
2:08 pm PST, Nov 24,Jason Gravelle, Canada
Restore public accountability.
# 529:
9:45 am PST, Nov 22,Name not displayed, Canada
Please return BC Ferries to a crown corporation so that all the communities that are impacted along the coast of BC and even inland can use the ferries as they were intended.. as an extension of the highway system, not to line the pockets of an upstart American CEO
# 528:
8:01 am PST, Nov 22,Name not displayed, Canada
Do the right thing and respect the people you work for.
# 527:
11:27 pm PST, Nov 21,Jon Suk, Canada
Please return BC Ferries to the citizens of British Columbia.
# 526:
1:49 pm PST, Nov 21,Cynthia Flood, Canada
# 525:
7:25 am PST, Nov 20,Barbara Dams, Canada
# 524:
5:38 pm PST, Nov 19,Jesse Keefer, Canada
# 523:
5:25 pm PST, Nov 19,Name not displayed, Canada
We pay our fair share in taxes, so why are we islanders treated differently. There should AT LEAST be a special deal for residents of the islands, like a token fee for permanent residents with prrof of residency. Either that, or a special gasoline tax return.
# 522:
4:47 pm PST, Nov 19,Virginia Downes, Canada
Ferries are an extension of our highway system and therefore rightfully belong with the Ministry of Highways
# 521:
4:23 pm PST, Nov 19,Sheila Dunnachie, Canada
# 520:
1:01 pm PST, Nov 19,Name not displayed, Canada
Ferries are part of our transportation system and should be treated as highways.
# 519:
11:01 am PST, Nov 19,Marilyn Campbell, Canada
# 518:
8:35 am PST, Nov 19,Jan Rabson, Canada
As a regular passenger from Salt Spring to Vancouver I feel completely ignored and dismissed as a customer. Aside from the higher prices, the turnaround @ Swartz Bay for cars is not only rediculous, it is dangerous and stressful. There are several easy fixes for this potentially life threatening transfer to another ferry that the BC Ferry Corporation chooses to ignore.
Unfortunately because we are on an island and have few choices for transport - we are subject to the rediculous rules the ferry system has set up that seem to make it more difficult, as oppossed to easier, for travel between the islands and the mainland.
If it were any other business, anywhere else - it would be front page news on mismanagement and absurd policies.
# 517:
8:33 am PST, Nov 19,Gregg Dow, Canada
Please visit our website: www.saveourferries.com
# 516:
7:57 am PST, Nov 19,Coralie Willcox, Canada
Our fares just keep climbing under Haan. We need to get back to being part of the highways!!!
# 515:
6:58 pm PST, Nov 18,Donald McBain, Canada
It's about time someone is trying to restore BC's good ferry system.
# 514:
12:07 pm PST, Nov 18,Name not displayed, Canada
IT IS PART OF OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEM, FUND OUR FERRIES THE WAY THEY FUND THEM IN THE EAST - IT IS ONLY FAIR!
# 513:
9:44 am PST, Nov 18,Denise Kellahan, Canada
We who depend on the Ferries are tired of the increased fares and reduction in service. This is an extension of our highway. The continual rise in costs is affecting the economy on the Island. Ferries should be not for profit and I urge you to return the system to the Government.
# 512:
7:56 am PST, Nov 18,Christopher Massop, Canada
I want a leader for British Columbia , not a CEO with failed business plans...The failed financial world around us is collapsing because of Government that share this ideology . This is clearly not working
# 511:
1:56 pm PST, Nov 17,Helen O'Shaughnessy, Canada
Public transit in any form belongs to all the people of B. C.
I am angry and heartilly fed up with the privatization of our public-good resouces and assets that the present B. C. government has imposed on the majority of its citizens against their will!
# 510:
12:42 pm PST, Nov 17,Chum R, Canada
# 509:
11:16 am PST, Nov 17,Ellen Karpinski, Canada
As the only surface means of getting to the islands, the fares should be equal to the cost of running our cars for the same trip if there were a road. That would be fair. It is our highway.
# 508:
8:56 am PST, Nov 17,Fay Morris, Canada
The cost for travelling from the mainland to the island has become absolutely prohibitive for average and lower income taxpayers. It's almost as though we are being held hostage by greedy corporate control. The ferries should be part of the Trans Canada Hwy. system and owned and managed by our elected government. Not by a private concern who increases the costs at will. The B.C. lake ferry system has "free ferries" as part of the highway system (ie Kootenay Lake). So, why can't the island routes be managed under the same government agency????
# 507:
8:15 pm PST, Nov 16,Jeff Ballou, Canada
Corporate America has no place in guiding the delivery of a basic service to the people of BC. Whether it be ICBC, Coastal Health or BC Ferries the importation of corporate american management has been a disaster. Their values and assumptions differ from most Canadians and this is most evident in the deteriorating relationship between the commuting public and BC Ferries brought on by policies that value the bottom line more than the common person.
# 506:
6:02 pm PST, Nov 16,Jeannie Kamins, Canada
The for profit sector has nearly destroyed the world's finances. Isn't it time to cover the costs of the basic needs of the people?
# 505:
4:24 pm PST, Nov 16,Susan Stout, Canada
# 504:
11:16 am PST, Nov 16,Name not displayed, Canada
The temporary vessel MVBowen is completely inadequate for disabled people
# 503:
11:13 am PST, Nov 16,Robert/Audrey WILD, Canada
We use the ferries constantly - as a necessary piece of the BC Highway system, since we live on an island
# 502:
1:23 pm PST, Nov 15,Name not displayed, Canada
We should no longer be prisoners to corporate profit. The ferry is an essential service which should be available to all British Columbians who must travel for work or wish to for pleasure.
