BC Ferries losing money

[Rwede]

If you're fine with those wage rates, don't be beyotching about what it costs you to leave the rock with your RV or lost tourism revenues because of fares.

[zookeeper]

What would be a real, viable solution to the issue?

[Motoguy]

Quote"but but but....all employees of every company everywhere deserve a "living wage" - that undefined amount of money that all people deserve as a human right, as per lefties everywhere, and if they don't get this undefined amount of money (erroneously insert reference to the LICO line here and even more erroneously refer to it as "the poverty line") then they are obviously "slaves". If you disagree with any of this nonsense, then you lack "empathy" and are full of "hate". Rinse and repeat.End of Quote

Not exactly undefined, easily calculated actually. I wouldnt say your full of hate just a bit paranoid maybe.

it may come as little surprise to many, but living in the Central Okanagan is not cheap. For the first time, the Regional District has set out to find out exactly how much residents need to make to meet their families' needs and improve its quality of life.

Their research calculates a living wage of $16.98 per hour, based on a two-parent family both working with 2 children, aged 4 and 7.

[GordonH]

Has anyone checked how the prices line-up with Ferry system in Atlantic Canada.

Yes, I am aware routes are longer (Base it on per/Km). Since it's the only other major ferry system in Canada.

(that I'm aware of)

[Rwede]

Has anyone checked how the prices line-up with Ferry system in Atlantic Canada.

Yes, I am aware routes are longer (Base it on per/Km). Since it's the only other major ferry system in Canada.

(that I'm aware of)

With years of leftist governments on the east coast, you can bet the situation there sucks big time. One would have to calculate in any rate subsidies in the east, too.

[NAB]

A reasonably close comparison to trips between the lower mainland of BC and Vancouver Island (albeit a bit longer trip) might be that between St. John NB and Digby NS aboard mv Princess of Acadia.

http://www.nfl-bay.com/princess-of-acad ... nd-fares/#

Nab

[zookeeper]

Way more expensive (walk on a shocker), but only one or 2 sailings per day. So again, will reducing sailings make a difference?

[NAB]

Way more expensive (walk on a shocker), but only one or 2 sailings per day. So again, will reducing sailings make a difference?

I believe so. Running ferries that are not full to at least near capacity makes little sense to me at all. People have just got too used to the "convenience factor" with BC Ferries. They suffer from the same problems that BC Transit buses suffer from - running equipment around with few folk if anyone on them except the driver.

Nab

[NAB]

If you're fine with those wage rates, don't be beyotching about what it costs you to leave the rock with your RV or lost tourism revenues because of fares.

Not to worry, it isn't the wages paid that is the cause of BC Ferries charging exhorbitant fares and still losing money, or tourist use of them being down for that matter. I never use them any more anyway, and if I ever planned to RV on the mainland (avoiding the Okanagan and its rip offs at all times ;-) ) ...I would do it via the States on my way back from spending my money out of the country and stage the RV on that side, flying over as needed.

Nab

[NAB]

These hopeless clowns will never "get it" I'm afraid... they just keep "kicking the can down the road" and throwing leaky old temporary bandaids on bleeding arteries.
Nab

B.C. Ferries ridership flat despite discounting of fares
By Sandra McCulloch, timescolonist.com June 28, 2012 7:01 PM

Fares were discounted by about 37 per cent on major routes from Friday to Monday during June.

B.C. Ferries’ bid to increase ridership in June by slashing fares from Friday to Monday through the CoastSaver program fell flat.

In fact, the number of passengers on major routes dropped 6.5 per cent compared to last June, while the number of vehicles was down three per cent from a year ago.

“People say that ferry fares are too high, but even with a 37 per cent discount, we didn’t see an increase in numbers,” said B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall.

Marshall said the drop could be due in part to changes in the CoastSaver plan, which ran Thursdays through Sundays last year. The numbers suggest that more people travel on a Thursday than a Monday, she said.

Last year’s passenger numbers may also have been boosted by the fact the Vancouver Canucks were in the Stanley Cup final. This year, job action by B.C. teachers forced the cancellation of many year-end field trips.

The cool June weather has also been a factor, said Frank Bourree, a tourism consultant with Chemistry Consulting.

“The CoastSaver program helped to mitigate a really weak season,” said Bourree, calling the weather conditions “horrendous.”

The July 1 weekend is historically one of the busiest weekends for travellers, “but everybody knows it’s going to rain,” he said.

Bus travel has been on the downturn across the country. And like school groups, many sports teams have cancelled travel plans, Bouree said.

He remains optimistic that B.C. Ferries’ passenger loads will start to turn around in six to 12 months, as suggested by survey results from Statistics Canada.

[NAB]

VICTORIA - Former BC Ferries boss David Hahn was known as the million-dollar man, but salary documents released Thursday show he was making even more money when he retired last year.

BC Ferries executive pay documents for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 show Hahn's total pay, including bonuses and pension entitlements, amounted to $1.13 million.

Hahn officially retired as of Dec. 31, 2011, but the $1.13 million he earned shows up on the 2012 fiscal year-end accounting.

The financial statements also reveal that the corporation's top four executives, including Hahn, received bonuses that total almost $1.7 million.

Current BC Ferries President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Corrigan was paid $915,615 in the 2012 fiscal year, but next year his total salary will be about $564,000 under salary restructuring and cost-saving plans announced last year.

BC Ferries reported net losses of $16.5 million last year, while vehicle traffic hit a 13-year low and passenger trips dipped to a 21-year low.

http://www.theprovince.com/business/for ... story.html

[Jordan123]

The above post really chaps my a$$ ...... They are getting huge bonus payouts while losing money, what the heck is that all about? ........ Especially since they are publicly funded! Grrrrr

[Logitack]

that is the liberal way ... make sure your friends are richly rewarded while telling everyone else the treasury is barren!

[Roadster]

I was just going to post this too.


Makes me sick,,, bout time it stopped

They complain they are loosing money, they are giving it away, they blame the passengers for not being passengers, the costs are too high, but they have to be to be paying kings,,, right?

Its not about the boats being a traffic lane anymore, its about seeing who can get rich off the islanders and tourists needing to make the trip.

The only good thing about this is if I was to drive my RV down there, put it on the boat and tour around, I could do it just as easily at the same cost by flying in on west jet, borrow my dads truck and camper to do any touring and then fly back after I visit them. Trip time, lost less and no waiting for an expensive ride on the water,,, hahaha.

[sooperphreek]

The above post really chaps my a$$ ...... They are getting huge bonus payouts while losing money, what the heck is that all about? ........ Especially since they are publicly funded! Grrrrr

that's today's business philosophy and its seeped into politics. reward incompetence and either milk the public coffers. or milk companies and go bankrupt. or get a bailout from public coffers. its a win, win, win for white collar thieves.