the sun appears to be setting on ferry advisory committees, as BC Ferries announced last month they're doing away with FACs in favor of a digital "more inclusive" model. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

change is on the tide

‘A lot of skepticism:’ FAC members leery of BC Ferries decision to move away from advisory model

Dec 6, 2024 | 5:26 AM

GABRIOLA ISLAND — BC Ferries announced last month they are working on a new engagement model that they say would better address the “evolving needs of growing coastal communities”, replacing the ferry advisory committees (FAC) in May of 2025.

Multiple ferry-dependent island communities in B.C. have had FACs in place for over 30 years providing public feedback to the Crown corporation, including Gabriola Island.

Chair of the Gabriola Island FAC Steven Earle said they could see “the writing on the wall” for some time, due to a number of changes to the Crown corporation’s upper management in recent years.

“Most of the people we deal with are new. In a way, the FACs, which are made up of people who have been around for a long time and have really strong, community experience, we know quite a bit more about how the system functions than a lot of the people that we’re dealing with at BC Ferries, just because so many of them are new.”

Earle said he and at least a hundred other FAC members met with BC Ferries recently where they were informed of the upcoming changes.

Demand still high

Nanaimo food bank reports Christmas demand levelling off following post-pandemic surge

8h ago

Coming Together

VIDEO: Clippers forging new identity with several new players

11h ago

robbery suspect

Nanaimo Mounties searching for violent offender

14h ago

He told NanaimoNewsNOW the announcement caught them by surprise.

“We didn’t know it was coming in this meeting, they didn’t give us any warning as to what they were going to say and that was pretty much the first thing they said was that ‘we’re planning to disband the FACs and look for a different way to communicate.'”

While BC Ferries said in a news release they’ll work with existing FACs, local governments, First Nations, and interested parties to create a more “inclusive and responsive engagement model”, Earle said he and other FAC members will believe it when they see it.

“There’s a lot of skepticism whether that’s going to be a genuinely open, transparent process, or if they’ve already decided what they want to do and they’re just going through the motions.”

He said BC Ferries has yet to answer his question about if FACs will still be considered an option during this process.

Community voices
BC Ferries said the feedback they’ve received indicated people want more options to engage with them digitally, including real-time surveys, feedback portals, and online forums.

Under the FAC system, complaints, comments, or concerns could be passed along to FAC members who would discuss it among themselves before forwarding the relevant information to BC Ferries, according to Earle.

Part of the Gabriola Island FAC for a decade now, Earle said he prefers the current system which relies on the good relationship they’ve developed with community members and BC Ferries over the years.

“I think it’s worked well to have a voice in the community that community members know they can go to when there is something that they’re concerned about with the ferry, because we really are ferry-dependent, so it’s helpful to have that sounding board.”

In the statement, executive director of external engagement for BC Ferries Morningstar Pinto said as they wind down the FAC model, they want to recognize the hard work and dedication of the volunteer FAC members.

“Their contributions have made our system better, and their insights on what worked and what can be improved will help contribute to a more modern process. Our goal with this new model will be to enable and amplify a diverse range of voices to better ensure the people who live in and represent the communities we serve can play an active role in helping inform decisions about the services they receive.”

BC Ferries said an Aug. 204 survey of nearly 5,000 ferry customers across the system resulted in 81 per cent saying they prefer to engage digitally, compared to only 8 per cent who were in favour of the current FAC system.

More information on this announcement can be found here on the BC Ferries website.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow