Gary Coons

VICTORIA – The B.C. Liberals are failing to act on an independent review of B.C. Ferries even as ferry fares are set to climb higher on April 1, say the New Democrats.
“Cities, towns and First Nations communities up and down the coast have been devastated by skyrocketing fares since the B.C. Liberals privatized our ferries [...]

B.C. Ferries is launching an internal investigation into safety concerns on board the Northern Adventure after the 6,000-tonne vessel was forced to abort a sailing this week due to bad weather in Hecate Strait.

Less than three weeks after the release of a finance ministry report that said the same people should not serve on the boards of both the B.C. Ferry Authority and B.C. Ferry Services Inc., at least one director has been reappointed to both.

NDP ferries critic Gary Coons is questioning whether the Northern Adventure — the ferry sometimes dubbed the “Vomit Comet” – is equipped for the harsh waters and weather of B.C.’s stormy North Coast.

For Immediate Release
VICTORIA—North Coast MLA Gary Coons is concerned that the ‘proposed’ BC Ferries new service from Tsawwassen to Prince Rupert will have a huge impact on jobs and the economy in Prince Rupert and the entire region.

Hansard October 20, 2009
G. Coons: The rain forest coast of British Columbia is the largest remaining intact temperate rain forest left in the world. While it is often the beauty of our rain forest which captivates visitors, it is the productiveness of these forests that makes them so vital. They feature the highest biomass per [...]

 An incident involving a 187-metre bulk freighter traveling between Vancouver and Kitimat last weekend shows why the northwest should be leery of allowing tanker traffic in north coast waters, says Skeena – Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen.

MP Nathan Cullen and MLA Gary Coons are both demanding that the federal government reverse its plan to destaff lighthouses on the west coast, including the one at Langara Island.
Replacing the human lightkeepers with automated machines is dangerous and short-sighted, the two politicians said.

 
While Tuesday’s throne speech committed the government pursuing an Asia Pacific Gateway Authority with the Federal Government to “open up the critical Northern Corridor”, North Coast MLA Gary Coons and Skeena Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen both say people in the region shouldn’t count on it.

VICTORIA – Media reports that B.C. Ferries CEO David Hahn received one million dollars in total compensation last year is more proof of why accountability needs to be returned to our ferry system, the Official Opposition said today.