B.C. Ferries faces criticism after more cancelled sailings

B.C. Ferries says two sailings were cancelled Wednesday due to a crew shortage. 

The 7 a.m. departure from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen and the 9 a.m. departure from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay were cancelled after crew members called in sick, said B.C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall.

"We know that our customers expect reliable ferry service, and unfortunately we didn't deliver that this morning," Marshall said Wednesday. "We just weren't able to backfill those positions as quickly as we needed to this morning."

Marshall said the Spirit of Vancouver Island, which was pulled from the route on Oct. 10 for repairs, returned to service Wednesday and three sailings were added. Work on the vessel has been completed and it is expected to return to regular service on Thursday, says B.C. Ferries.

Earlier this month, B.C.'s transportation ministry released a statement on its plan to fine B.C. Ferries when it cancels "core service" sailings because of staffing shortages.

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said Wednesday that B.C. Ferries has been active in hiring and connecting with post-secondary programs, but is still falling short. 

"We have continued to reach out to the company to support its hiring and recruitment and retention initiatives," Fleming said.

B.C. Ferries under 'incredible tension,' says MLA

B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon took aim at B.C.'s NDP government for what he called "terrible results" at the independently managed but provincially owned corporation. Falcon was critical of the fines, which the province has said will be $7,000 on major routes, and $1,000 on minor routes. 

"The people they should be fining are the senior executives. It should be the four new vice-presidents they've now hired in addition to the ones that already there," Falcon said Wednesday.

Shortly after, Fleming responded to Falcon's criticism.

"It was under his watch, when he was the transportation minister, that the CEO of B.C. Ferries got paid a million dollars a year," Fleming said.

Falcon served as transportation minister from 2004 to 2009 under what was then the B.C. Liberals. The party privatized the Crown corporation in 2003.

Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen of the B.C. Green Party said Wednesday that the ferry service is under "incredible tension" right now, but needs to be more competitive when it comes to hiring.

He said the disruptions and lack of certainty are causing problems for people and businesses.

"It will mean that ... businesses are going to choose to invest elsewhere if they can't get their product in or out of their businesses based on the island," Olsen said.