Coastal ferries are a critical part of British Columbia’s transportation system. Hundreds of thousands of British Columbians and visitors rely on it to transport food, other goods and themselves between the Lower Mainland, the islands and coastal communities. In a typical year, British Columbia Ferry Services (BC Ferries) carries over 20 million passengers and 8 million vehicles.
On April 1, 2003, the Province transferred operating and financial control of BC Ferries to the BC Ferry Authority. The Authority is independent of government. The transfer resolved longstanding governance problems, creating a coastal ferry system that will be sustainable into the future.
The Province has a long term contract with BC Ferries to provide a defined number of ferry sailings on 25 designated routes. In return, the Province pays BC Ferries a service fee for each sailing (currently on 22 of the 25 routes). The Contract requires that BC Ferries hold public meetings and prepare audited financial statements, a business plan and conduct customer satisfaction surveys on an annual basis. All information is posted on the BC Ferries website under "Investor Information".
Since the contract was established in 2003, there have been 4 amendments negotiated between the Province and BC Ferries.
The British Columbia Ferry Commission regulates BC Ferries' fares and service levels on 25 coastal routes. The Commission is independent of both the government and of BC Ferries.
British Columbia's revitalized ferry system provides improved service and customer choice, guaranteed service levels, predictable fares, an independent regulator to oversee the ferry operator and high levels of accountability and transparency.
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