Gary Coons's News
April 30, 2012
VICTORIA – The B.C. New Democrat Official Opposition caucus has formally registered its opposition to Enbridge's Northern Gateway Project with the National Energy Board’s Joint Review Panel.
“Under the Enbridge proposal, British Columbia would assume almost all the project’s risk, yet would see only a fraction of the benefits,” said New Democrat leader Adrian Dix. “By any measure, such a high-risk, low-return approach simply isn’t in B.C.’s...
January 24, 2012
Recommendations point to lack of accountability, need for affordability
VICTORIA— A report released today by B.C. Ferry Commissioner Gord Macatee provides more evidence of the Liberal government’s failure to ensure the corporation is accountable to ferry users and exposes major flaws with the B.C. Liberals’ Coastal Ferry Act, says New Democrat ferry critic Gary Coons.
“The Liberals promised families and communities stability when they brought in the Coastal Ferry...
November 25, 2011
VICTORIA –Friday’s B.C. Ferries announcement of a new fuel surcharge increase seems to violate current legislation and the Liberals should put a halt to it, say the New Democrats.
“Ferries CEO David Hahn’s Christmas present to coastal communities is to make ferries even more expensive,” said New Democrat ferries critic Gary Coons. “even though current legislation may not allow it.”
A press release from the ferry corporation issued Friday said,...
August 25, 2011
VANCOUVER –Wednesday’s announcement by B.C. Ferries that service cuts are on their way adds to the mounting evidence that the Liberal policy of operating our ferries like a private cruise line has failed, say the New Democrats.
“Skyrocketing fares, a serious drop in ridership, sending ship-building jobs to Germany, and wasteful spending on executive salaries, a tourism centre and expensive ads paint a picture of a ship adrift at sea,” said New Democrat ferries critic...
July 20, 2011
VANCOUVER -New Democrat leader Adrian Dix and MLA Gary Coons are urging Premier Christy Clark to disclose, as part of her commitment to open government, the bonus pension agreements for B.C. Ferries executives, and the consultants' report that guided the board of directors.
Ms Clark's open data portal does not provide access to these reports or agreement.
Disclosing the agreements will allow the official opposition and others to test the Premier's claim that a...
March 22, 2011
VICTORIA –In the wake of ongoing mismanagement at B.C. Ferries, including a despicable cash grab and threats of doubling ferry fares over the next four years, New Democrats are calling on Premier Christy Clark to take action and restore accountability at B.C. Ferries.
"The government can no longer sit back and say they are not responsible for the way B.C. Ferries is being run. British Columbians have spoken and they're demanding the pieces of the puzzle be put back together,...
March 17, 2011
VICTORIA – Arecent WorkSafe BC review of safety violations at BC Ferries gives the B.C. Liberal transportation minister an opportunity to prove he is not just more of the same and step in and ensure our ferries are safe. Passengers and workers on board our ferries can’t afford more of the same neglect from the B.C. Liberals, say the New Democrats.
“Since the B.C. Liberals privatized B.C. Ferries in 2003, we have seen tragedies and heard countless concerns about safety,...
