Who’s accountable for BC Ferries?
Ferry workers know better than anyone that reliability isn’t a statistic. A sailing runs or it doesn’t. A delay ruins someone’s day or it doesn’t.
That’s why this week, President Eric McNeely published a commentary in the Times Colonist asking a simple question: Who is actually accountable for B.C. Ferries when things go wrong?
The answer is complicated. The ferry system is publicly funded but managed through a private operating company with a unique governance model. Four different bodies share power over decisions, investments and fares. When things go wrong, everyone holds part of the mandate, but no one is clearly responsible for outcomes.
Who’s in charge?
| Who | What it is | What it does |
| B.C. Ferry Authority | Voting shareholder | Hires the board and CEO |
| BC Ferry Services Inc. | Operator | Runs the boats and terminals |
| Commissioner | Regulator | Sets fare caps and approves big spending |
| Province | Funder | Pays, writes legislation, signs the service contract |
Last month, BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez said service should be judged at a “system level,” arguing that oversight works and recent disruptions are statistical outliers. For the communities and workers dealing with delays and cancellations on single-vessel routes, that answer doesn’t match the lived experience of coastal communities.
Until recently, ferry advisory councils gave island communities a formal way to share local knowledge and flag issues early. They disappeared under the current CEO, replaced by an online feedback model that centralizes decisions and leaves communities with less say. Advisory councils weren’t perfect, but they made sure the people who rely on the service had a meaningful seat at the table.
Ferries are public infrastructure. We don’t expect highways, schools or hospitals to turn a profit. Their purpose is to connect the province and support economic and community life. Public services work best when the people who rely on them can hold someone accountable for performance. That accountability is missing today.
Ferry workers keep the system running through fog, mechanical issues and staffing challenges. Communities depend on reliable sailings for work, school, medical care and family. When decisions are made in boardrooms and measured in spreadsheets, the consequences fall on crews and passengers.
Rebuilding public trust requires clarity about responsibility and a governance model designed for public service and accessibility.
📰 Read Eric’s opinion piece in the Times Colonist here.
👂 Listen to his discussion BC Ferries’ governance on CFAX 1070 here.
