The Harrop-Procter Ferry Committee Society is taking a wait-and-see approach to B.C.’s change in government, with its president unsure whether the incoming Conservatives will advance the group’s longstanding proposals.
Ina Pockrass said the committee has found advocates in both major parties, meaning the election results don’t necessarily change its outlook.
“I wouldn’t say it gives us renewed hope. I’d say it gives us about the same hope as we’ve had before,” Pockrass said.
The committee has been pushing for the province to legally recognize inland ferries as essential services, equivalent to highways and bridges, and to protect 24-hour, on-demand service during labour disputes.
It also wants changes to the Labour Relations Code that would give affected communities an automatic right to present their concerns to the Labour Relations Board during future disputes.
Pockrass said there was recognition within the former NDP government that inland ferries are essential lifelines.
“Brittny Anderson has, I think, not gotten enough credit for what she’s done behind the scenes, both as a minister and an MLA,” Pockrass said. “She wasn’t really able to say things out loud for legal reasons, as she couldn’t be seen to interfere with a labour issue. But she’s done a lot for us behind the scenes.”
That said, Pockrass felt more needed to be done.
“There was a lot going on behind the scenes that I was aware of. There was a lot of resistance as well within the NDP government. I mean, it’s no secret that the NDP government had a very, very close relationship with the unions and that the unions are very important to that party,” Pockrass said.
“But at the same time, there was definitely recognition within the NDP, both at the ministry level, and I think certainly Steve Morissette locally, Brittny Anderson locally, and others who were very aware that these ferries are essential lifelines,” she said.
With Anderson now returning to the legislature as an opposition MLA, Pockrass believes she could have more freedom to speak publicly about the issue.
“I think she could be a louder voice for change. I think she’ll be less constrained because she won’t be a minister in the government in power. Obviously, we’re going to have to wait and see how it plays out, but it has the potential for her to even be a stronger advocate for us,” she said.
The committee had not yet contacted the incoming government at the time of the interview, but Pockrass said it planned to reach out once key cabinet positions were confirmed.
“We wanted to give it a chance to kind of have the dust settle and see what ministers are going to be in what positions. Because obviously, a ministry of rural affairs is going to be very important, and transportation and labour. Once we know who’s in those seats, we’ll be reaching out to them pretty quick.”
The committee is also working with other ferry-dependent communities across B.C. through the Inland Ferry Coalition to develop a shared strategy.
Pockrass said the goal is to balance workers’ right to strike with communities’ need for reliable transportation.
“We respect and understand workers’ rights to strike,” she said. “What we’re seeking is a balancing of the workers’ rights with the community’s rights to access. The scales have been out of whack and we want them brought back into balance.”
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