Wednesday, November 14th ~ Forbes Hall 5 - 8PM
Reminder: meeting with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure regarding the future of BC Ferries.
Important web addresses:
Click here to view the Discussion Guide & Feedback PDF
Feedback form starts on p 16 of above
Click here for Route specific information
Please note that the feedback form will only print on 8.5x14 paper.
A couple of things to keep in mind…
This is a Government initiative, and in particular the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI). MoTI and their consultants (Kirk and Company Consulting) will be facilitating the event. BC Ferries are subject matter experts for this exercise and unfortunately will not even be present at the Thetis and Penelakut meetings. Your local FAC members will attend and will gladly answer any questions. Additionally, we will attempt to keep the Ministry ‘honest’ during the discussions…
The format is an ‘Open House’ format from 5 to 6:30 pm followed by a 90 minute question and answer session (this may vary slightly).
To best be prepared for the meeting please consider the following: If you have access to the internet go to www.coastalferriesengagement.ca and read the Discussion Guide, the Appendix of route specific information and then have a look at the Feedback Form (see additional addresses above). This is the form MoTI will want you to fill out on Wednesday…or print your own copy and complete in advance, or complete an online copy. Additionally, I have placed paper copies of the guide and the appendix in the library.
There is also a printed ‘Consultation Guide’ that members of the Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs have put together in an attempt to counter some of the misleading statements in the Discussion Guide. The reference to page numbers refers to the Ministry’s Discussion Guide. I have pasted another copy of the ‘Consultation Guide’ below.
Please note that the questions ask you to rank your agreement between strongly agree to strongly disagree…unfortunately there is no box for completely unacceptable. If this is the case folks can put an x in any of the squares and can add any clarification they desire, such as expanding 'basic levels of service' or adding 'additional funding from Gov't to cover the 'shortfall' in whole or part' in the comment section. Whenever possible write in that Government needs to increase its funding to Coastal Ferries.
Please come to the Open House…and bring your neighbour. It is important that the Government understands how important the ferry service is to life on Thetis Island.
Keith Rush