Dear Editor,

The sudden sacking of the Ferry Advisory Committees (FAC) has a context. BC Ferries(BCF)  is claiming that a new digital system will be more inclusive and that a survey supported their decision. Neither islanders nor the Ferry Advisory Committee members have seen this alleged survey.  

Another viewpoint is that BCF is reacting to the failing grade the thirteen FAC chairs gave the corporation last May for not collaborating meaningfully to resolve escalating service problems. In response, Commissioner Eva Hage wrote the corporation a lengthy directive emphasizing the fundamental significance of the FAC in guiding decision making and instructing the corporation to significantly improve its community engagement activities.

However, instead of following her instructions, the corporation continued to suspend community engagement events and then, without warning, sacked the FAC.  

How then can we taxpayers and ferry dependent-islanders trust that a digital system will be an improvement over an ideal democratic system of problem-solving? 

Respectfully,

Sharon Small

Denman Island Resident.