B.C. Ferries wants the public's help to envision its future

B.C. Ferries says it is on a mission to change how it serves coastal communities, and in order to do so it wants public feedback on topics ranging from convenience, to sustainability, to the way ferries integrate with land transportation. 

CEO Nicolas Jimenez acknowledges there is work to be done on how the service runs right now, but that the corporation has to look ahead at the same time. 

"Let's face it, there's some challenges in the system that we have today, but it would be irresponsible if we didn't look ahead 10 to 20 years, especially with the growth that's happening in this province and in this country. So I think we need to do both."

B.C. Ferries has been plagued with difficulties over the past few years, with both staff shortages and mechanical problems causing cancellations and long-weekend chaos. 

He said they are working to hire new licensed officers, and invest in new vessels. 

Now, he wants to hear from the public about what they want. 

For example: will car ferries be a priority in the future? 

"Do we want a system that, you know, exclusively services vehicle traffic? That's what we have today," said Jimenez.

He also wants to know if sustainability is a priority — especially as the corporation plans to invest more in hybrid electric ferries. 

On Nov. 8, the ferry corporation and the authority that oversees it launched Charting the Course: A Vision for Coastal Ferries. The project starts with an online survey, which is open to the public until Nov. 28. 

The survey doesn't ask specifically about electric capacity, or passenger ferries, but it does ask respondents to weigh in on the corporation's six long-term goals: reliability and convenience; integrated transportation; safety; environmental responsibility; affordability and financial sustainability; and customer experience.

There will also be workshops with First Nations, local governments, tourism associations and other ferry users.

In the spring, a draft vision will be presented to the public for further comment. 

Action, not plans 

Diana Mumford, who chairs the Southern Sunshine Coast ferry advisory committee and also leads the chairs of all 13 ferry advisory committees, is among those who will be consulted by B.C. Ferries this fall. 

While she hasn't had her meeting yet, she said she's heard plans and strategies before — what she wants is action. 

She said questions about how land transportation networks connect to the ferries is not what people in rural communities need.

"They're tired of words. They want to be able to go to a ferry and get on it, in a timely manner, and get to where they need to go." 

Matching population growth

David Levi is vice-chair of the B.C. Ferry Authority, and co-chair of its strategic committee. The authority oversees B.C. Ferries's strategic direction. 

As someone who lives primarily on Gabriola Island, he said he understands the struggles more rural coastal communities have had over the past few years —  especially when service hasn't grown at the same rate the population has. 

But he said that's why long-term planning is important. 

"It's become a very critical piece, especially for people like me and others who live in ferry-dependent communities, to make sure that we are looking forward to seeing what the population growth is … then trying to match the service with that."

He added the review is about coastal transportation as a whole, not just B.C. Ferries. 

Residents of coastal communities can fill out the survey until Nov. 28.