As seems to be the case whenever the topic of the Ferries comes up the two participants that get the most ink are the local MLA Gary Coons and the Transportation Minister for the Province Kevin Falcon.
With the Transportation Minister in town last week, the inevitable topic of Ferry services to the North Coast came up for discussion, and like clockwork the point – counter point dance began anew.
The Daily news covered the situation from the Falcon side of the debate, as Falcon took issue to the approach that Coons has used to bring up concerns over the Ferry issue.
COONS ‘SPEAKS BEFORE HE THINKS’ –FALCON
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday November 10, 2006
Pages one and two
North Coast MLA Gary Coons is damaging the tourism industry by repeatedly making fake claims about the safety of B. C. Ferries, says the province’s Transport Minister.
”Gary Coons has been completely irresponsible in making those allegations (that B. C. Ferries aren’t safe.) He began making them the moment the Queen of the North sank. He ran around hysterically saying ferries weren’t safe… totally jeopardizing tourism operators in this region when in fact safety may have nothing to do with what ultimately took place,” said Kevin Falcon, who was in town this week to speak about transportation at the Change Brings Opportunities Conference.
Falcon was responding to a call by Coons to intervene with the private corporation to ensure the fleet is safe.
“Someone has to step in and ensure safety is a priority at B. C. Ferries,” said Coons two weeks ago. “Mr. David Hahn (B. C. Ferries CEO) has been pretty cavalier about safety concerns, but ultimately it’s Minister Falcon’s responsibility to ensure the transportation infrastructure is safe.”
Coons was particularly concerned about safety after former B. C. Ferries safety director Darrin Bowland publicly claimed B. C. Ferries had ignored his warnings about the potential for “catastrophic incidents” if safety wasn’t improved.
However Falcon said Bowland only worked for the company for six weeks and he’d prefer to base his opinions on the report by the federal Transportation Safety Board.
“What we have said is: let the Transportation Safety Board undertake their investigation and listen to the recommendations before you make those kinds of spurious allegations.
Unfortunately, he (Coons) often speaks before thinking - those kind of comments are simply wrong,” said Falcon.
Falcon said Coons should be applauding the fact that the provincial government is increasing the contribution to the ferries by tens of millions of dollars annually so northerners can see an adequate new vessel brought in as a replacement.
“While the NDP were running around complaining there were no vessels, we and B. C. Ferries were running around looking for a new vessel,” he said.
B. C. Ferries has completed the purchase of the Sonia. The 117 metre Sonia, which was built in 2004 and most recently ran between Barcelona and Ibiza, is in Greece, where she is being painted and prepared for the transatlantic trip.
B. C. Ferries is buying the Sonia for $50.6 million, the total refit cost is $18 million and modifications to the docks at Port Hardy, Prince Rupert, Skidegate and McLoughlin Bay will cost about $4 million.
“And we are going to see a brand new vessel, the result of the provincial government contributions, that will also be plying the waters of North Coast,” said Falcon, of the vessel that will replace the aging Queen of Prince Rupert.
B. C. Ferries announced this summer it had awarded Flensburger Schiffbau, a German company, the $133 million contract to replace the Queen of Prince Rupert.
“Those are both pretty positive things. He (Coons) seems to be absolutely and constantly incapable of seeing anything positive when it comes to B. C. Ferries, “ said Falcon. “That’s too bad because he does a dis-service to the region, whereas I think they are getting some exceptional ferry service at B. C. Ferries and I think the employees have done a great job managing what has been a horrible incident with the Queen of the North.”
He said the provincial commitment to the two new vessels is evidence that the premier and the government are making sure the North Coast,” has the very best service to grow their economies.”
And he’s pleased they’ll be able to have both new ships in service well before the opportunities of the 2010 Olympics.
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