People Against BC Ferries

[DJ Ponz]

This is a big "FUCK YOU" to those tards in the province yesterday bitching about a 5% increase in prices to ride BC Ferries. The private company hiked the price to offset the rising cost of fuel. You are retarded because:
- you can't understand why bc ferries wouldn't run a deficit just so you can get to the island at an artificially low price
- you don't know that BC Ferries is a private company and they don't owe you shit
- you don't understand that world gas prices are only going to continue to go up until there are alternate forms of fuel.
- If you want BC Ferries to be cheaper, lobby to break the union that pays food service people 19 bucks an hour to clean up trays.

Quit feeling victimized, get the fuck out of your car and into a bus, and think about something other than your own pitiful existence, where a 5% increase in fares has the same meaning as genocide in Darfur.

You selfish cock-munchers.

[Senior]

Keep in mind those "lazy" union workers are all required to be fully trained for a marine accident. Would you really prefer to have a bunch of minimum wage morons in charge of saving your life on one of those boats in the event of an accident? Also with good salaries and working conditions comes a much higher employee retention rate which saves a lot of money in retraining expenses. The race to the bottom doesn't always end up in a better or less expensive product. In fact to my understanding didn't B.C. Ferries just go through a major shake up/privatization to cut costs already?

As far as the price increase I wouldn't jump out in favor of it without looking into the issue a bit. Those ferries are a life line for tourism on Vancouver Island and all the Gulf Islands for that matter and keeping them inexpensive isn't necessarily a bad thing if it attracts more tourism dollars. Keep in mind these are communities that have been hit very hard in recent years by a sharp drop off in the resource based economy.

As for the Vancouver Province, have they ever even made the pretense of offering quality journalism?

[Chewy]

Originally Posted by DJ Ponz

This is a big "FUCK YOU" to those
selfish cock-munchers.

exactly

[BongMan]

Originally Posted by Senior

As for the Vancouver Province, have they ever even made the pretense of offering quality journalism?

HAHAHA I was thinking the same thing best damn Tabloid ever I read it at work everyday I always get a giggle at some of the stuff in there.


On the gas surcharge really it was to be expected they are popping up all over the place Canada Post CPrail CNrail FedEx UPS even Star Cruises I think it is has one. Also, it isn't like it is a huge increase cents for a walk on a $1.30 for a car to the island really to keep the ferries in service and not see more tax cash sunk in to them I would gladly pay this charge when I choose to use the ferry.

[Senior]

Originally Posted by BongMan

HAHAHA I was thinking the same thing best damn Tabloid ever I read it at work everyday I always get a giggle at some of the stuff in there.

"BE SCARED AND SPEND MONEY!" It's the headline in one shape or way every day.

[BongMan]

it is it so is ohh well I wouldn't pay for the thing I am more a fan of the Sun don't mind the Globe and Mail either just not enough west coast for my tastes.

[baby-phat]

God damnit.. now I _really_ can't wait till I move to Van!
I remember years ago when it was only like $8.00 during peak season to ride the ferry and $7.50 the reast of the year. :( The price just keeps going up and up and up, and the ferry while it is kinda convenient is a big pain in the ass to get to and from. If only I could afford to just Heli-Jet back and forth. lol

[BongMan]

I will come pick ya up and we can zip across the straight in my seadoo you ready for a bumpy ride Angel?

[baby-phat]

Gooooo Seadoo!
I wonder how long of a trip that would be..?

[BongMan]

I figure an hour or under it does 60 knots.

[Grapes]

- you can't understand why bc ferries wouldn't run a deficit just so you can get to the island at an artificially low price
- you don't know that BC Ferries is a private company and they don't owe you shit

My main problem with privitization in general lies with the fact that a private company has but one overriding objective: Turn a consistent profit. Where a government controlled company might be satisfied with breaking even, because their concern is basically just to get people from one place to another, without LOSING money, a private company will not be satisfied with that.

A hike in fares to cover gas expenses is a pretty common thing these days.. but I'm always suspicious of any private companies providing essential services.. does that 5% hike make sure they can make a slim profit? Or does it maintain a fat margin for them, where they could have got by on less but said "naw fuck it, let's make the consumer pay for it."

I think all private companies that run essential services (hospitals as well) should be forced to have their accounting etc open to periodic, regular review.

[BongMan]

Well I know they applied for a much larger hike and were denied by the government.

[robyn]

Sooooo, ever actually lived on an island?

[Sykonee]

Originally Posted by robyn

Sooooo, ever actually lived on an island?

Oh, yeah. The good thing, though, was the island was so close to the mainland, they could build a bridge connecting it. :p

[DJ Ponz]

Originally Posted by Senior

Keep in mind those "lazy" union workers are all required to be fully trained for a marine accident. Would you really prefer to have a bunch of minimum wage morons in charge of saving your life on one of those boats in the event of an accident? Also with good salaries and working conditions comes a much higher employee retention rate which saves a lot of money in retraining expenses. The race to the bottom doesn't always end up in a better or less expensive product. In fact to my understanding didn't B.C. Ferries just go through a major shake up/privatization to cut costs already?

As far as the price increase I wouldn't jump out in favor of it without looking into the issue a bit. Those ferries are a life line for tourism on Vancouver Island and all the Gulf Islands for that matter and keeping them inexpensive isn't necessarily a bad thing if it attracts more tourism dollars. Keep in mind these are communities that have been hit very hard in recent years by a sharp drop off in the resource based economy.

As for the Vancouver Province, have they ever even made the pretense of offering quality journalism?

Quazi-valid points. I have friends who've shlepped trays for BC Ferries, and I can assure you, even they thought 19 bucks was an outrageous wage for their level of training and their day-to-day tasks. Dude, lifeguards don't even get paid as much as a tray cleaner on BC ferries - and they're far more likely to use their 'lifesaving skills' as the momo who vacuums the floor. Lifeguards are also far better trained than those you've called 'lazy' union workers. But this thread isn't about that. Nor is it about a fucking seadoo, but whatever.

What it is about is a fuel surcharge. And the issue is it's 5%. And people get up in arms about it. They forget they live in a global economy. People get pissed off at the slightest things. And they are so nearsighted that I feel like I need to make them the subject of a punching bag thread. (this passage was written in calmness, really)

I guarantee you an increase in 2 dollars per car would have 0% effect on the tourism industry in Victoria and the island. Of course, I haven't seen research specifically about BC Ferries, but other modes of transportation that supply tourists to destinations have seen little consumer response to 5% fare increase (eg. airlines). The majority of users of BC Ferries aren't even tourists anyway.

And living on the island is no reason for special treatment. You choose to live there, you pay the prices to get back and forth. Does this look like Quebec?

[Carrie]

I think that BC ferries runs a pretty good service for what we pay them.

I can't complain.

I was on the ferry during a storm, the boat shouldn't have even left Victoria, but it did. We were all scared but the captain got us home safe. We all clapped for him.

[robyn]

Originally Posted by Sykonee

Oh, yeah. The good thing, though, was the island was so close to the mainland, they could build a bridge connecting it. :p

That's not a real island!

[Senior]

Originally Posted by DJ Ponz

Quazi-valid points. I have friends who've shlepped trays for BC Ferries, and I can assure you, even they thought 19 bucks was an outrageous wage for their level of training and their day-to-day tasks. Dude, lifeguards don't even get paid as much as a tray cleaner on BC ferries - and they're far more likely to use their 'lifesaving skills' as the momo who vacuums the floor. Lifeguards are also far better trained than those you've called 'lazy' union workers. But this thread isn't about that. Nor is it about a fucking seadoo, but whatever.

What it is about is a fuel surcharge. And the issue is it's 5%. And people get up in arms about it. They forget they live in a global economy. People get pissed off at the slightest things. And they are so nearsighted that I feel like I need to make them the subject of a punching bag thread. (this passage was written in calmness, really)

I guarantee you an increase in 2 dollars per car would have 0% effect on the tourism industry in Victoria and the island. Of course, I haven't seen research specifically about BC Ferries, but other modes of transportation that supply tourists to destinations have seen little consumer response to 5% fare increase (eg. airlines). The majority of users of BC Ferries aren't even tourists anyway.

And living on the island is no reason for special treatment. You choose to live there, you pay the prices to get back and forth. Does this look like Quebec?

Hey, I was just suggesting that the issue isn't as clear cut as you make it out to be. Honestly without doing the proper research you have no basis to suggest that a price increase wouldn't deter tourists from going to the island. I'm not saying that it would, just that there are many aspects to consider when looking at an issue such as this.

Also something to consider is that B.C. Ferries are part of our highway system and nobody pays to drive on our highways. Should we instal tolls on every highway and make them profitable as well?

[Sykonee]

Originally Posted by robyn

That's not a real island!

Sure it is.



I'll grant Kaien Island isn't as remote from mainland as, say, the Kerguelen Islands, but it's an island nonetheless. :p

[SEAN!]

Originally Posted by Grapes

My main problem with privitization in general lies with the fact that a private company has but one overriding objective: Turn a consistent profit. Where a government controlled company might be satisfied with breaking even, because their concern is basically just to get people from one place to another, without LOSING money, a private company will not be satisfied with that.

A hike in fares to cover gas expenses is a pretty common thing these days.. but I'm always suspicious of any private companies providing essential services.. does that 5% hike make sure they can make a slim profit? Or does it maintain a fat margin for them, where they could have got by on less but said "naw fuck it, let's make the consumer pay for it."

I think all private companies that run essential services (hospitals as well) should be forced to have their accounting etc open to periodic, regular review.

bc ferries isnt really a private company, since they are owned by the government. They dont retain their profits, the profits go to general revenue for the governmnet.

p.s fuck the ferry and other public sector unions.

[SEAN!]

Originally Posted by DJ Ponz

Quazi-valid points. I have friends who've shlepped trays for BC Ferries, and I can assure you, even they thought 19 bucks was an outrageous wage for their level of training and their day-to-day tasks. Dude, lifeguards don't even get paid as much as a tray cleaner on BC ferries - and they're far more likely to use their 'lifesaving skills' as the momo who vacuums the floor. Lifeguards are also far better trained than those you've called 'lazy' union workers. But this thread isn't about that. Nor is it about a fucking seadoo, but whatever.

What it is about is a fuel surcharge. And the issue is it's 5%. And people get up in arms about it. They forget they live in a global economy. People get pissed off at the slightest things. And they are so nearsighted that I feel like I need to make them the subject of a punching bag thread. (this passage was written in calmness, really)

I guarantee you an increase in 2 dollars per car would have 0% effect on the tourism industry in Victoria and the island. Of course, I haven't seen research specifically about BC Ferries, but other modes of transportation that supply tourists to destinations have seen little consumer response to 5% fare increase (eg. airlines). The majority of users of BC Ferries aren't even tourists anyway.

And living on the island is no reason for special treatment. You choose to live there, you pay the prices to get back and forth. Does this look like Quebec?

it wont effect utilization of the ferries even for the purposes of tourism. the ferries are a monopoly which is part of the reason for the outcry, since consumers have to pay the charge since they have few alternatives save for other forms of transportation which cost much more.

as for tourists, you're right, its extremely unlikely that any travel plans will change due to a five percent fare increase as leisure travel is a luxury and as such tourists are not that sensitive to price changes.

[mapleleaf4ever]

Originally Posted by robyn

Sooooo, ever actually lived on an island?

No kidding. These people complain about taking a Ferry. I remember when I had to take a Ferry; drive to Port Hardy aaaaaand theeeennnn take a Helicopter or Seaplane to my Island of Residence. ugh...