Wisdom of imposing fines on BC Ferries questioned
The province’s decision to impose fines on B.C. Ferries for missed sailings due to crew shortages has some academics and other ferry watchers scratching their heads.
“I almost see the fine as a punishment in terms of, ‘You’re being bad. Fix your behaviour.’ And I’m sure B.C. Ferries is not cancelling ferries on purpose,” said Kimberley Speers, assistant teaching professor in UVic’s School of Public Administration, who called fines “a strange way” to address staffing shortages — a common problem for many organizations.
B.C. Ferries faces a fine of $7,000 if a sailing on a major route does not take place because of a staff shortage, or $1,000 on certain minor routes. The new penalty is part of the latest service contract that comes into effect in April between the province and B.C. Ferries.
Fines represent the cost of fuel that would have been used on those routes.
