January 9, 2012

Opinion: Future of BC Ferries

By CRAIG McInnes, Vancouver Sun columnistJanuary  6, 2012
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Opinion+Future+Ferries/5959982/story.html#ixzz1iz6kfJRZ

The legend of King Canute ordering the tide not to rise is often  misrepresented as an example of unbridled arrogance. As originally chronicled,  however, the 11th-century Danish monarch set his throne by the seashore to  demonstrate the limitations of even the most powerful of men.

I was reminded of Canute in the reaction of the NDP ferry critic Gary Coons  to the fuel surcharge announced by BC Ferries last fall. Continue reading →

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January 5, 2012

Study for BC Ferries Urged Steep Fare Hikes at Busy Times

Report advised way to make more money yet carry fewer, FOI reveals.

By Andrew MacLeod, Today, TheTyee.ca

A 2007 study produced for British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. found the publicly owned company could maximize its revenues by raising regular fares by 75 per cent, if the province’s ferry commissioner would allow such a large hike.

The proposal included charging more at the times when people were most likely to want to travel, and dropping fares at other times. A more recent report suggests that hike could be made without seriously decreasing traffic levels, a finding disputed by critics who say ferry fares are already too high. Continue reading →

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December 12, 2011

Letter to Minister Lekstrom re: B.C. Ferries extraordinary price cap increase

December 12, 2011

Dear Minister Lekstrom,

I’m writing in regards to the B.C. Ferries extraordinary price cap increase (fuel surcharge) that will take effect today on several routes.

The cost of boarding B.C. Ferries has risen too much, too quickly. More and more people are deciding to stay home because the amount British Columbians have to pay at the ticket booth has been priced out of their family’s budget. Continue reading →

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December 7, 2011

New BC Ferries CEO takes pay cut

 The Canadian Press

Tuesday Dec. 6, 2011 4:40 PM PT

Click here to watch video news coverage

New BC Ferries boss Mike Corrigan makes almost half as much money as his predecessor — the so-called million-dollar man — but that’s still too high, says Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom.

BC Ferries announced Tuesday that Corrigan, the No. 2 man at the publicly owned, but privately operated company, will be the new president and chief executive officer, replacing David Hahn who retires at the end of the month.

Corrigan, a former professional hockey player who has been at BC Ferries since 2003, is currently the company’s executive vice president for business development and chief operating officer. Continue reading →

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December 6, 2011

BC Ferries names new boss, limits compensation to $600,000 a year

By Cassidy Olivier, Postmedia NewsDecember  6, 2011

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Ferries+names+boss+limits+compensation+year/5821325/story.html#ixzz1ftMPZ8O0

VANCOUVER — BC Ferries has tapped its second-in-command to succeed outgoing  president and CEO David Hahn, who announced his resignation earlier this year  under a cloud of criticism for his $1-million salary.

Michael J. Corrigan, a nine-year veteran who has served as BC Ferries’  vice-president and chief operating officer since 2006, will be paid $563,000 per  year for five years, about 60 per cent of what his former boss made, when he  assumes Hahn’s duties Jan. 1.

Continue reading →

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December 6, 2011

B.C. Ferries’ new CEO heads for rough seas

Mike Corrigan faces challenges of low ridership, pressures on  fares

By Rob Shaw, timescolonist.com
December 6, 2011

There’s no easy fix for the troubles facing B.C. Ferries and it’s likely  nobody will be completely happy with the changes ahead to fares and service  levels, says the corporation’s new CEO.

Mike Corrigan, B.C. Ferries’ second-in-command, was tapped by the board of  directors Tuesday to replace CEO David Hahn, who is retiring at the end of the  month.

Corrigan’s five-year term is headed straight for choppy waters as the  corporation seeks government approval to cut 400 sailings, while provincial  politicians ratchet up pressure to cap ticket hikes and the independent ferry  commissioner finishes a review of the entire system. Continue reading →

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December 6, 2011

BC Ferries has a new CEO

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980)

12/6/2011

BC Ferries has a new boss, and he came from within the organization.

Chief Operating Officer Mike Corrigan takes the helm after December 31st, when David Hahn steps down.

Corrigan will only bring home 60% of his predecessor’s salary, and that’s not the only cost savings in store. Continue reading →

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December 2, 2011

Seniors up in arms over DriveABLE

Drivers beggin MLA for help

By Lexi Bainas, CitizenDecember 2, 2011

Local seniors, worried about facing driving tests when they pass age 80, have been pouring into the office of Cowichan Valley MLA Bill Routley.

He presented petitions carrying more than 950 names in the Legislature recently to make several points about his own concerns about the Drive ABLE program, calling the process “unfair,” particularly to rural seniors.

“This is an important issue to the Cowichan Valley, that’s for sure,” he said this week. “I’ve had probably more constituents in over the recent months about Drive ABLE than over anything else. Seniors are really upset about what’s happened to them.” Continue reading →

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November 29, 2011

BC Libs Ignored Own Law on Ferry Price Hike: NDP

Fuel surcharge a ‘backdoor’ way to get prohibited fare bump, says MLA Coons.

By Andrew MacLeod, Yesterday,                          TheTyee.ca         

The British Columbia government passed a law in June that was to block an increase in ferry fares until Oct. 1, 2012, but is allowing a fuel surcharge to go ahead.

The government passed Bill 14 in June, making amendments to the Coastal Ferry Act to address public concerns about sharply increasing ferry fares. Among other things, the bill was to “prevent ferry operators from obtaining extraordinary price cap increases… until October 1, 2012,” according to an explanatory note.

Extraordinary price cap increases, according to Section 42 of the act, are for things like “an extraordinary increase in the price of any non-controllable input such as fuel.” Continue reading →

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November 29, 2011

BC Ferries surcharge hike ‘a bit suspicious,’ NDP says

DAVID PROCTOR

METRO VANCOUVER          

Published: November 28, 2011 5:55 a.m.
Last modified: November 28, 2011 10:20 a.m.
Fuel-surcharge increases announced by BC Ferries on Friday could be illegal, the B.C. NDP says.The price hike, which the Crown corporation blames on the rising cost of marine diesel, will raise the existing surcharge to five per cent from 2.5 per cent on the three major routes connecting Vancouver Island to the mainland. It will also introduce a new 2.5 per cent surcharge on the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route. Continue reading →

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