Open Letter
Subject: Sham Fire Safety System on the Baynes Sound Connector: B.C.Ferries’ Gaslighting Calls for Strong Government Oversight
Dear Honourable Minister of Transportation Farnworth and Commissioner Hage:
B.C. Ferries has yet to inform Denman and Hornby islanders why the Baynes Sound Connector has been loading up to 25% fewer vehicles per sailing for over the last holiday week or when full service will return. The corporation’s silence is not only frustrating for ferry-dependent islanders, but is a violation of the BCF Commissioner’s directive to report service changes promptly and transparently. An industry expert and islander, however, believes that the service reduction is due to BCF finally doing something about the vessel’s sham fire safety system because hydrants are not connected to hoses, pumps, and safety equipment for staff and the cable ferry lacks a necessary backup fire safety system.
This overlooked fire safety issue is just one of many problems afflicting the cable ferry. Its cable system, for example, is a frequent cause of lengthy service cancellations. In addition to crab pots and other objects tangling in the cables, a cable could fall off if the vessel runs in winds higher than 39 knots. Last May, when a cable dropped off on a windless day, the service interruptions that extended over a three day period were dramatic for islanders. Some resorted to hiring a private boat, like Gracie MacDonald who describes her harrowing experience when trying to get her dying brother to a hospital in the press (https://thediscourse.ca/comox-valley/denman-island-resident-calls-for-investigation-into-bc-ferries-cable-ferry).
In the same article a BCF spokesperson gaslights islanders’ experiences and feelings by claiming that cancellations are “below the average percentage of cancellations across the entire BCF system” that “0.3% (03% or 30%?) were cancelled due to mechanical issues, and that the reliability of Route 21 has improved by a 40% reduction in mechanical-related cancellations.This is a classic example of gaslighting, as the Anderson Review lists a number of unresolved mechanical failures that explain the service problems and FOI sources, union members, and MLA Josie Osbourne, confirm that Route 21 has the highest number of mechanical-related service interruptions in the fleet.
Although islanders hoped that CEO Jimenez would correct the mistakes of past leadership by replacing the cable ferry and stop the gaslighting, he has continued his predecessor’s pattern of underreporting cancellations, (ZERO were reported in the 2023/24 Annual Service Report); and repeats in service reports to the the Commissioner, the former CEO’s 2015 claim in service reports to the Commissioner that the cable ferry provides service on a par with its predecessor, the Quinitsa.
BCF’s claim that the current budget cycle doesn’t provide for replacement is neither convincing nor in compliance with the Coastal Ferry Act that compels the corporation to provide safe and reliable service to ferry-dependent islanders. Quadra, for example, has two of the six new Island Class Ferries even though it competes with Denman as the busiest and most profitable of the short routes. Many islanders believe that aside from saving face for making a bad decision, BCF is keeping the cable ferry in service to support the deception that the cable ferry is a success and even exceeding corporate expectations; and to save face because islanders who opposed replacing a reliable vessel with a risky experiment predicted the mechanical problems that are confirmed in the 2023 Anderson Review of the Baynes Sound Connector.
This review, which was authorized by the Commissioner in response to the high number of customer complaints, contradicts the BCF spokesperson’s claim that the mechanical issues are being resolved, as it lists a number of unresolved mechanical issues that account for the frequent breakdowns. It states also that the vessel is slower and costs more than anticipated, but omits to discuss the multiple issues and exceptionally high expenses of the cable system. The review concludes with offering four or five options for the corporation to consider— from decommissioning the vessel to stretching it. BCF chose the latter cheapest and most irrational option! Islanders are fearful that BCF is still considering stretching the cable ferry because the current budget provides funds for adding deck space.
Without strong government oversight, islanders can expect BCF to continue to gaslight and place budget over safety and service reliability. This is indicated by their decisions involving not only the Baynes Sound Connector, but the Coastal Renaissance and the Queen of New Westminster. Bill 7, which your predecessor tabled in 2022, would provide the needed changes to the Coastal Ferry Act and legislation for strong oversight.
Given ample evidence of BCF violating the Coastal Ferry Act, the Commissioner’s directives, and the corporation’s code of ethics, I am appealing once again to MOTI and to the NDP/Green coalition government to compel BCF to replace a proven failed cable ferry experiment with one of the available Island Class Ferries.
Respectfully,
Sharon Small,
Denman Islander
