Do you Agree with the NDP?

[Curtis]

Since were under 10 days from election day I might as well bring this question up. As for me im undecided aka maybe. The question is will they stay on track for service like they have as a private company? will the Super C-Class and the new Bowen Island ferry ever be built? will the V-Class be retired? Will Mill Bay Brentwood Bay, Powell River-Comox and Texada, and the Northern routes be owned by BCF?
They should be a Crown Corporation and stick to the ultimate customer service and safety they need the Crown Corporation combined with the Independant Company

[Doug]

I vote maybe as well. The only advantage I can see to it is that they wouldn't contract out any routes (possibly). But I would rather have it private than Crown. Oh well, the NDP can say what they want, the Ferries are on a contract.

[Balfour]

The NDP have spent their entire campaign mudslinging at the Liberals. They have not promised anything. To me this is bad campaign strategy.

As for agreeing with the New Dumba$$ Party, well I never agree with them. I think that most or all of their policies are dumb.

I would say more and I might even have a different opinion if the NDP was not spending this campaign just simply mudslinging at the Liberals, because then I'd know more about what their party wants to do.

[kylefossett]

i am a paid up member of the ndp party so i guess you know who iam voting for

[YZFNick]

I don't believe that BC Ferries should be a for-profit corporation.

[NMcKay]

i think BCF needs to be more competitive.

[Low Light Mike]

I say "leave it as it's new structure". Keep it private.

That being said, I may still vote NDP, because I think they have the strongest candidate in my riding. So I'd rather have an MLA that has integrity. but I digress.

[Curtis]

the only problem is the cost

[Alex]

My belief is that BCF shouldn't have been privatized at all. It operated fine for decades as a Crown corporation. I mean, most of what it is today can be attributed to it's days as a Crown corporation.

Having said that, I think that now that it has been privatized, there's no sense in trying to bring it back to a public company. It's done, and changing again would only introduce the chance of more problems down the road. Basically "what's done is done". What we need to do now is watch it carefully and make sure it stays good, and then if issues arise further in the future, then re-examine whether it needs to continue to be private.

[Balfour]

Agreed!

[Engineer]

Like I said before , because of the coastal ferry act it will soon be a user pay ferry system.
Hope you all have lots of money.........................
cant wait till I can say told ya so .....

[cascade]

I agree partly with what engineer is saying - but I have seen what former "state" owned companies - once free can do - or in some cases not do.

So what will happen to BCF ? I think that the market does need to be opened up and let other oerators have a crack at running a service from the same terminals / ports. See what type of service they offer.

Most of you are aware that in Europe there is better ferries - as some companies have put in the capital required to keep them up to date. These ones are great. A lot better than what is currently working on the coast. But most of you have only seen one type of service - maybe some of you have seen WSF - that is OK - but nothing to write home about. You have very limited experince at any other ferry service. There is very plainly a total lack of any competition on the BC - so you only know one type of service nothing else. A real shame..... pls travel you younger memeber and see what is out there - besides BC Ferries.

[Political Incorrectness]

well it won't matter because if it was crown again, then taxes will go up and I don't believe that you shouldn't pay for what you don't use.

[Balfour]

That's good. I also believe in the user pay system.

[harbourlynx]

I just I dont know so im going with maybe

[Engineer]

[quote author=cascade

So what will happen to BCF ? I think that the market does need to be opened up and let other oerators have a crack at running a service from the same terminals / ports. See what type of service they offer.

TEXTTEXTJust compair Washington state ferries to us...........


. You have very limited experince at any other ferry service. There is very plainly a total lack of any competition on the BC - so you only know one type of service nothing else. A real shame..... pls travel you younger memeber and see what is out there - besides
BC Ferries.
[/quote] I have seen BCf for 26 years and seen it going down the tube each year.You may think you are worldly, but I have worked on this companys old crap for years keeping it running. I do know what I am talking about.
Its a dam good thing I have ferry passes as part of my job because I would not want to have to pay like you will in the future.

[Scott]

I think some people forget that the reason BC Ferries was created was because private companies couldn't provide adequate and dependable service to the Island in the first place. There are differences now, I realize, but I don't think it should have ever been privatized. It shouldn't be a for-profit service. No one has to pay to use any of the bridges, highways (except for the Coquihalla), roads, or tunnels in British Columbia... all of which cost lots of money to build and maintain. Granted, it costs more to run the ferries, so _something_ should be paid, but to ask that every route make a profit is wrong.

The fact that the company is now free of government interference (I hope?) is a good thing, and I like some of the changes that have been made under the new management... more special deals, more shopping opportunities, etc. And it seems like they've been able to make some progress in getting new ships.

But I don't like the fact that they don't care about anything except the bottom line. Their "consultation" with communities seems like a sham, and they don't seem to be accountable to anything except their contract.

There's got to be some kind of middle ground between how BC Ferries was and how it is now: protected from interfering politicians, but accountable to the customers and coastal communities as well.

[cascade]

Engineer - you are right.

If it was me - I would spend the money that they are spending on major life refits ect.... as a deposit for a new vessel.

I have mentioned this in the past and that is has anyone done a P/L - (Profit & loss) on each vessel in the fleet - then done a P/L on each route?

I am sure that the cost of keeping some of the vessels in the fleet is very much counter productive. It cost more to keep her a float that what she makes - working a route. Over the years investment has gone into keeping jobs in the Yards instead of replacement of the vessels. As you and other people know looking after an old car is fun - BUT it does cost you money. Looking after an aging fleet is very costly.

BC Governments in past have got it wrong. Maybe by opening up the routes to outside players - will make BCFS take note and improve there service - not by cutting routes - but by offering a service the paying public want - if they don't then why should tax payers keep on paying for a crap service.
I also don't like the "stealth" fare increases by chargeing for bookings made over the internet and for sitting in a lounge to drink a coffee. BC Ferries have done a Great deal with the German yard on the three new vessels - so don't go and spoil it all with these under handed fare increases for lack of a good service.

[cascade]

Engineer -

There are some good and some very bad European ferry operators. People in BC - younger members of this board - should get out of BC and travel. If you go to Europe have a look at some of the ferry operators. Travel on there vessels. Then you can see the difference to what you have back home in BC. In some cases BC Ferries are a lot better - but in been honest - some of the private / major players do have there act together and offer a great service. It is these companies that maybe people within BC Ferries should have a look at and even copy some of there ideas.

I strongly believe that in the last 40 years - with all the money BCFS has had that they should have done a much better job. It is going to be very painfull in sorting out the mess from the last 10 to 15 years.

As an employee of BCFS would you like to work on a new vessel or repair - patch up an old vessel - that maybe has a bit more character than something newer?? (Would be interested to hear your comments)

[Koastal Karl]

Can count me in. I would love to go to Europe, or anywhere and travel on the different the ferries and see what they are like. Only problem is getting the money to afford to take a big trip like that. Maybe a few others on this board would like to go??

[Koastal Karl]

I think BC Ferries should stay the way it is now. Alot more has been done as far as upgrading ships and terminals than when it was a crown corporation.

So if BC Ferries went back to a crown corporation, will we be seeing the old livery or will it be staying the same??

[Curtis]

I think they are staying with this livery

[Engineer]

As an employee of BCFS would you like to work on a new vessel or repair - patch up an old vessel - that maybe has a bit more character than something newer?? (Would be interested to hear your comments)



The ferry corporation should of been building a ship every two or three years for the past ten years, just to catch up. But all the money gets used else where, which is all political and out of our hands.
Right now I get to work on one of the newest ships, which is diesel electric and is a joy to work on.
But over the years I have worked on many of the old fleet. I agree the idea of working on an old classic is great, but most old classics come out of the garage on sunny week ends and cruse around at a leisurely pace.

The Ferries are taking their classics out every day and working them to death, hence the charm of tinkering with them goes out the window, and it is more like daily emergency repair.
I loved working on the Tsawwassen she is a real classic, but a work horse just to keep things running daily.

[Engineer]

Cascade?
Your profile says London? Is this correct.
if true how often to you get to ride the great BC Ferries lol

[cascade]

Engineer,

Your comments about working on the "older" vessel and the newer ones - you confirmed what we thought.

I was born on the coast - as for trips out there. In 2004 I was in BC 11 times - Vancouver then across to see my parents who are getting on - (Nanoose Bay) then down to Sidney - see friends ect... across to Salt Spring to see my sister - then back to Vancouver and I fly back to Heathrow or down to LA on Buisness. As my "buisness" is in funding for shipping companies - I do ride a lot of ferries - mostly in Europe - but while on the coast - yes I do ride the "Big White one's".