Cuts blamed on corporation’s financial turmoil

VICTORIA - Today's announcement by B.C. Ferries that it has cut 35 management and administrative positions demonstrates Gordon Campbell's privatisation scheme has failed, say the New Democrats.

"B.C. Ferries is in a mess, and Gordon Campbell should come clean to British Columbians on how it got to this point," said New Democrat ferry critic Gary Coons . "Ferry ridership and revenue have been dropping for some time.Gary Coons

"There is a growing list of serious questions about how Campbell's corporation has been handled, and we have yet to receive any real answers."

The corporation blame decreased ridership and a poor economic outlook for the job cuts. Coons said major increases to ferry fares since Gordon Campbell privatised ferries played a huge part in decreased ridership, and there are also many more questionable practices that need to be answered for.

"By how much did the corporation increase management level positions since 2003, when Gordon Campbell privatised our ferries? Why did they spend so much money advertising at GM Place and in the media? Why do the new German-built ships guzzle so much gas, and why are they docked so many days out of the week?" said Coons.

"Press conferences, leaked memos and half-answers aren't good enough," said Coons. "Gordon Campbell is completely out of touch if he thinks things have been hunky dory at B.C. Ferries since he privatised it.

"And yet Gordon Campbell arrogantly denies British Columbians real answers as to why the corporation is in such a mess."

Coons pointed out that on February 1 fares will jump up by 50 per cent from their current cost.

"British Columbians are paying through the teeth for our ferries, , yet Gordon Campbell won't give any answers.

Gary Coons

North Coast

Gary Coons was re-elected as the MLA for the North Coast on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature on May 17, 2005.