tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post8702612100363642980..comments2024-01-08T21:00:24.932-08:00Comments on The Straight Goods: BC Ferries, Gordon Campbell`s ATM machineGrant Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11944976348166120530noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-43415574276085098702009-12-01T13:27:04.331-08:002009-12-01T13:27:04.331-08:00According to Wikipedia:
The provincial Crown is ...According to Wikipedia: <br /><br />The provincial Crown is the sole shareholder of BC Ferries. BC Ferries is not a Crown Corporation. It is organized as a privately-held company. BC Ferries is a de facto Crown corporation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-60591672173008754682009-12-01T04:53:48.310-08:002009-12-01T04:53:48.310-08:00This may explaing things...
Seaspan, ferry corpor...This may explaing things...<br /><br />Seaspan, ferry corporation battle over lucrative drop-trailer trade<br /> <br />Times ColonistNovember 28, 2009<br /> <br /> <br />B.C. Ferries Services Inc. is being accused of unfair competition in instituting a drop-trailer freight service between the mainland and Vancouver Island.<br />Drop-trailer services come into play when a truck drops off the trailer at one terminal and another truck picks it up on the other side.<br />Seaspan Coastal Intermodal, which operates its own drop-trailer services to the Island, has seen "a notable decrease in our customers for the drop trailer service" since B.C. Ferries launched its service in March, said Seaspan representative Kelly Francis.<br />"We are also experiencing untenable rate pressure from other customers in order to keep them," Francis said.<br />"The details aren't something we can share because it is competitive information."<br />B.C. Ferries CEO David Hahn said "we are just competing with them. I don't know what the problem is. I'm confused."<br />Seaspan argues that competition from B.C. Ferries is unfair because of the subsidies it receives from the provincial government. But Hahn says those subsidies cover minor routes to the Gulf Island and not the main routes where it operates the drop-trailer service.<br />"I offered to give them [the Gulf Island routes] to them and all the supports that come with them," Hahn said. "Last year those routes lost $5 million."<br />Darryl Anderson, managing director of Wave Point Consulting Ltd. in Victoria, said Seaspan's loss of business is also because of the overall drop in the economy.<br />"There is no question in tough economic times that every operator is going to look to the other one and press the case that the playing field should be more level," Anderson said. "They may have a point there that if B.C. Ferries doesn't pay taxes or those other kinds of arguments they put forward that that is some sort of unfair subsidy."<br />So why did B.C. Ferries not introduce a drop-trailer service before?<br />"Because they probably didn't want to feel like they were stepping on private enterprise's territory," said Dag Waddell of Trans Isle Freightways in Duncan. "You can make a pretty good argument that they're subsidized substantially.... It's not government's business to put private enterprise out of business."<br />B.C. Ferries, which was founded as a government agency in 1958, was turned into a putatively private company in 2003. Hahn said he assumed that the government didn't allow Ferries to operate the drop-freight service. When the decision was made to enter that market, B.C. Ferries "spent a lot of time" looking for the best way to do it.<br />"At the end, we found a way to make it most efficient," he said.<br />B.C. Ferries' drop-trailer service differs from that offered by Seaspan and Van Isle Barge Services Ltd., which has a terminal at Duke Point near Nanaimo. Seaspan and Van Isle carry only the trailers themselves. B.C. Ferries, though, attaches one of its own "power units" to each trailer so that the trailers can be quickly unloaded on the other side.<br />"I'm telling you, it's a thing of beauty," Hahn said. "That's why they hate it."<br />Hahn also scoffs at the notion that it's a David and Goliath battle, with B.C. Ferries playing Goliath. He points out that Seaspan Coastal Intermodal is part of the Washington Marine Group, owned by Montana billionaire Dennis Washington, one of the richest people in the world.<br />Forbes magazine recently estimated Washington's wealth at $4.2 billion, noted Hahn, who recently came under criticism for his $1 million annual salary.<br />Seaspan Coastal Intermodal and its precursor companies have operated a marine freight service out of Swartz Bay since the 1960s.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-29948680999897986482009-12-01T00:14:43.048-08:002009-12-01T00:14:43.048-08:00Alas, the truth is there, but gordo the drunk and ...Alas, the truth is there, but gordo the drunk and his minions will not let it out. This man<br />has been a disgrace since he took public office. He has lied, fked, and stole his way to the<br />top. It all links together... BC Rail, BC Ferries, Virk / Basi case, multiple families, etc. A<br />continuation of lies, theft, and overt criminal activities. If the mainstream media had any<br />balls, (Do you hear me not so good, vague palmer, mike "I love gordo" smith, sun,<br />province, et all. You are the ones that are in cohoots in all his drunken, drugged up<br />doings. Enough of him, off with their heads. Give us back our province. Not forgetting<br />fatboy coleman, fire island kev, bobblehead abbott, lots of thieves to go around. By the<br />way, where is that big cheque for the billion? Hmm, ask his friends.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-10919864854471559192009-11-30T20:02:16.148-08:002009-11-30T20:02:16.148-08:00Anon....Someone riding the BC Ferries gravy boat i...Anon....Someone riding the BC Ferries gravy boat isn`t about to give me the combination to the vault...Like Gregor Robertson...Dan Miller has defected to the dark side.And .....<br /><br />Mr. Miller isn`t the BC Ferries financial face, he certainly wouldn`t have the numbers,and even if he did....Like I said...He`s defected.<br /><br />CheersGrant Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944976348166120530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-77198397269689735742009-11-30T19:50:41.098-08:002009-11-30T19:50:41.098-08:00Straw man argument??? WTF? Contact Dan Miller for ...Straw man argument??? WTF? Contact Dan Miller for the inside goods... by e-mail. It's as easy as 1-2-3!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-31354931246939586342009-11-30T19:40:24.121-08:002009-11-30T19:40:24.121-08:00Anon 7.31 pm......I am aware that Dan Miller sits ...Anon 7.31 pm......I am aware that Dan Miller sits on the board....Your straw man argument holds no water....<br /><br />As I remember, Dan Miller in the lead up up to the last provincial election turned on the NDP and stumped for Gordon Campbell.He (Dan Miller) endorsed the Enbridge pipeline,endorsed offshore oil n gas drilling,he endorsed corporate giveaways.....It seems his spots have turned into Gordon(Prison issue)stripes!<br /><br />And as I said, The Straight Goods doesn`t pull any punches, the chips will fall where they may,no matter who they implicate.<br /><br />CheersGrant Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944976348166120530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-28979582168489063572009-11-30T19:31:08.019-08:002009-11-30T19:31:08.019-08:00My gosh, I just remembered! Former BC NDP Premier ...My gosh, I just remembered! Former BC NDP Premier Dan Miller is on the BC Ferries Board!!! And he's still a long time party member in good standing. (He hates the "Gordo Tron" ™ ®)<br /><br />Contact Him!!!!!!<br /><br />He would just love to give you the inside goods - or the "Straight Goods". hahahahaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com