MENU
QUICK LINKS
BC Chamber of Commerce
#1201, 750 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2T8
T 604.683.0700
F 604.683.0416
E bccc@bcchamber.org
Advocacy & Policy
2010 - 2011 Policy & Positions Manual
<< back to Statements of Policy
BC Ferries - An Essential Service
In a province as vast and diverse as BC, reliable and affordable transportation has been recognized as a fundamental prerequisite to economic development.
BC’s ferry system is an essential service. It is a vital part of the highway network and should be given equal rights of access. British Columbians rely on marine transportation no less than they depend on any stretch of BC highway. In 2002, BC Ferries carried 21.6 million passengers and 8.3 million vehicles. The volume of marine traffic rivals some BC roads, where access is deemed an inalienable right. Yet ferry service remains at the mercy of disruption every time labour and management have a disagreement.
Further, in a recent Synovate Survey, the ferry system is recognized by 89% of British Columbians as “important to the provincial economy” with 92% of respondents saying that BC Ferries should remain an essential service.
BC Ferries is an essential service that needs to have legislative teeth behind the concept. The disruption caused by a ferry strike, highlights the need for a new approach to labour disputes and also the need to ensure that the parties involved both have significant advantages to ensuring mutual compliance.
Underlying this concept is the need to clarify that essential service means a 100% uninterrupted “for purpose” service, excluding everything save an Act of God. The term ‘for purpose’ refers to the transportation of goods and persons, not ancillary revenue from cafeterias and retail sales operations.
The consequences of parties not abiding by their duty to perform must be significant enough to warrant sober second thought. The threat of being sued by class action places the burden of action on the aggrieved populace and delays the pain of consequence to the point of insignificance. As such, only legislation can carry the clout and will of the people to the Labour Relations Board to deliver the promise of “essential service.”
The Chamber recommends that the Provincial Government introduces legislation to ensure that if essential service targets are not met, significant penalties must be levied on all parties. Under this framework the government must also ensure that this legislation recognizes and enforces the concept that essential service means 100% service for purpose, and develops a bilateral process for resolving disputes.