Service between Gabriola Island and Nanaimo will be considerably affected until further notice, due to the vaccination status of some crew members on the MV Quinsam. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

MODIFIED SCHEDULE

‘Those early morning ferries are an essential service:’ vaccine mandate behind ferry changes for Gabriola Island

Nov 18, 2021 | 4:43 PM

NANAIMO — New COVID-19 vaccine mandates for BC Ferries are behind a drop in service for residents of Gabriola Island.

A Monday, Nov. 15 deadline for BC Ferries employees to provide proof of at least one dose of vaccination came and went, with approximately 1.6 per cent of the company’s 5,000 employees indicating they were unvaccinated.

BC Ferries declined an interview with NanaimoNewsNOW however Astrid Chang, manager of corporate communications, said in an email they continue to work with the BC Ferry & Marine Workers Union to manage individual cases.

“BC Ferries is actively reaching out to onboard employees who have yet to report to ensure they understand the requirements and encourage them to submit their attestations and comply as soon as possible.”

A “small number” of employees are seeking work accommodations in light of the new policy, according to Chang.

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The Nanaimo Harbour to Gabriola Island route is the only one affected by crew shortages.

The modified schedule, which will see vehicle crossings on the MV Quinsam cancelled in the early morning and evening hours, is due to be in place for the foreseeable future.

A water taxi service will replace the cancelled Quinsam sailings but is limited to ten passengers per trip.

Steven Earle, chair of the Gabriola Island Ferry Advisory Committee, told NanaimoNewsNOW they were informed Friday, Nov. 12 issues may arise, only to be told later in the day the situation would be fine.

A final notice of the schedule changes came Sunday, Nov. 14.

“Those early morning ferries are an essential service for people living here and working on Vancouver Island,” Earle said. “Healthcare workers, shift workers, lots of people need those early sailings to get to their jobs.”

He said BC Ferries haven’t responded to their questions for details on the nature of the shortage, whether it’s unvaccination of workers or just a failure to declare.

Thousands of people and hundreds of vehicles travel the route daily, according to Earle, with the changes catching many in the community off guard.

“If there had been some advance warning, people could have put their cars in Nanaimo and driven from there but there are people who work in places where there is no bus and a taxi would be very expensive.”

While the early morning sailings will impede people’s ability to get to work on Vancouver Island, or contractors chance to travel to projects on Gabriola, loss of the evening sailings will hurt too.

“As you get towards the later part of the evening, it’s people coming and going from Nanaimo for meals out or whatever, some of that is convenience but some of it is necessary,” Earle said. “A lot of students have activities in Nanaimo, sports and dance and they tend to go on into the evening.”

Earle added most of the conversation in the community is about missing key medical appointments or logistical challenges in using the water taxi service.

He said he wouldn’t be surprised to see businesses impacted the longer the modified schedule remains with reduced opportunities to get goods from Nanaimo to their stores.

The Gabriola to Nanaimo route has been plagued by poor on time performance in recent years, with crossings often cancelled in a bid to get back on schedule.

Two vessels are due to replace the MV Quinsam, creating more trips on a daily basis, beginning in 2022.

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley