The BC Conservatives have called on BC Ferries to reinstate its recently sacked community advisory committees.In a letter, Langley-Abbotsford MLA and Transportation Critic Harman Bhangu warned CEO Nicholas Jimenez and Chair Joy MacPhail that failure to do so would be a detriment to coastal communities, who rely on the committees to be their voice."BC Ferries is playing Grinch this Christmas — firing 13 volunteer panels with 30 years of service," Bhangu lamented. "I ask you to meet with us to outline your plan for the immediate reinstatement of these volunteers, as well as your plan to involve coastal communities more robustly in discussions relating to changes forthcoming to the services BC Ferries provides them.""To fire the volunteers tasked with providing you feedback and information from coastal communities, while scaremongering about 30 per cent fare increases, is a slap in the face to the people on the coast who depend on you," he added.His sentiments were shared by Courtenay-Comox MLA Brennan Day, who drew attention to the the fact that the NDP has largely remained silent on the issue. "We have heard nothing from Dana Lajeunesse, Debra Toporowski, Josie Osborne, Sheila Malcolmson, Randene Neill, or Tamara Davidson," he noted. "These so-called representatives are taking their marching orders from Joy MacPhail in the corner office in Victoria." Day went on to claim that, "if you live on an island community or a coastal community, in Chemanius, on Penelakut, on Thetis, on Denman or Hornby, on Gabriola, Gambier, Keats, or Texada, in Prince Rupert, Lemtu, Bella Coola, Ocean Falls, or on Haida Gwaii, the only MLAs who will stand up to BC Ferries and fight for you are the BC Conservative MLAs."BC Ferries announced the move to axe the committees in November, vowing to implement a "new engagement model that better addresses the evolving needs of growing coastal communities, reflecting the importance of more effectively incorporating digital engagement.".Due to a high level of spam content being posted in our comment section below, all comments undergo manual approval by a staff member during regular business hours (Monday - Friday). Your patience is appreciated.
