Picture above showing the ongoing Trestle Repairs to the Crofton Terminal since July 2023. Vesuvius Bay Terminal is next for repair work. 

Fellow Petitioners, 

It's hard to believe but we've been campaigning for Service and Infrastructure Improvements on Route 6 for 20 months now. When does the Petition Terminate? When the improvements are up and functional. If you're reading this Petition for the 1st Time and impacted by our service, please feel free to sign on.

This Summer again we see the repairs to the Trestles at Crofton and Vesuvius Bay to extend their long serving - service life. Those travelling back and forth look with grave concern at the sorry state of both trestles and their decks. For our Commercial Clients who bring our Goods and Services, the ramps are restricted to 39,500 Kgs which prevents them from transporting cost effectively. 

September is a very important month for Route 6. The BC ferries Commissioner will confirm if the funding for the New 2 Ferry Service using the New ECO Island Class Vessels similar to Route 19 Nanaimo - Gabriola and Route 23 Campbell River - Quadra Island will be funded. With the time expired state of our Terminals the continued funding for New Terminals will hopefully be confirmed. 

After presenting as a Delegation to our New Local Community Commission - Commissioners in July, a Motion was created at the request of CRD Staff for the August 22, 2023 LCC Meeting. Our CRD Director Chaired the Meeting and advised the Motion was not defeated but used for informational purposes only. We watched the proceedings on ZOOM. The CRD Director feels his need is required on the Ferry Advisory Committee. With a Refreshed and Restructured Ferry Advisory Committee suggestions put forward he would still have unfettered input. The Director's tenure on the FAC is time expired according to the Terms of Reference from BC Ferries. 

The Motion was never addressed formally, so we will assume it would have been defeated unanimously by our LCC Commissioners. 

Sadly, after 2 decades of deferred improvements to our Ferry Service our LCC Commissioners are not inclined to make changes on how we Advocate for our most vital link to the Island - BC Ferries. This in Lieu of the fact the BC Ferries New CEO - Nicholas Jimenez is launching in on a $5 Billion outlay over the next 10 to 20 years. The Refreshed and Restructured Ferry Advisory Committee is modelled in a similar fashion to the Municipality of Bowen Island - Ferry Advisory Committee. 

We continue to Campaign our LCC Commissioners on the importance of addressing this matter for the future of our Service and Infrastructure for the next 50 years. Our prime supporter of improvements to Route 6 is Mayor Rob Douglas of the Municipality of North Cowichan. Our prime supporter Overall has been MLA Adam Olsen who has been extremely helpful and continues to Advocate on our behalf. We sincerely appreciate the efforts of both of these gentlemen.  

Looks like a quiet Long Weekend for BC Ferries. The message is getting through, if you are travelling with BC Ferries expect delays. Fellow British Columbians are now making choices and heeding that advice. 

Best Regards, Patrons of Route 6.

Addendum: Motion.

Refresh and Restructure of the SSI Ferry Advisory Committee 
D. Courtney proposed the following motion: 

Whereas: Both BC Ferries and the Chair of the Salt Spring Island - Ferry Advisory Committee fail to respect the “Terms of Reference” when it comes to the rules regarding the Chair’s tenure. 

Whereas: The Chair and one other Committee Member is effectively the FAC.

Whereas: A smaller tight knit focused Group of 5 individuals, including one Member of the LLC could be very effective. 

Whereas: BC Ferries CEO is considering a 10 to 20 year Plan that involves $5 Billion worth of improvements to the BC Ferries Service Network. We want to be part of that plan and Advocate effectively with the assistance of the Elected Commissioners of the LCC. 

Whereas: BC Ferries is effectively our Lifeline to Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Our FAC is extremely important to our Community. 

Be It Resolved: That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission refreshes and restructures the Ferry Advisory to the following: 

• New Committee Chair. 
  * 3 - Committee Members which includes 1 Member from each Route 4, 6 & 9 who travel the route regularly and are the eyes and ears for service on their particular route. 
  * 1 - Commissioner from the LCC. 
• The New FAC Committee of 5 is selected by the LCC and appointed by BC Ferries with their concurrence. The 5 Member FAC then provides the suggestions of the greater issues to the LCC, who in turns Advocates those express wishes to BC Ferries. 

Ferry Advisory Committee Terms of Reference 
OVERALL MANDATE - FACs 

To represent the community in a consultative relationship with BC Ferries, while bringing forward local ferry service concerns identified by residents, businesses and other stakeholders to BC Ferries. 

Members are to provide feedback on local ferry service to residents of the community, and in turn advise BC Ferries, on behalf of residents of the community, on long-term community planning requirements in relation to local ferry service. 

Members are to advise BC Ferries on effective ways to communicate local ferry service issues to residents of the community (e.g. traditional media, social media, and public engagement sessions, etc.) and relay to local residents BC Ferries’ long term plans and priorities (i.e. vessel/service strategy changes). 

FUNCTIONALITY 

Appointment 

Members are appointed by BC Ferries after receiving nominations from stakeholder groups or volunteers from local communities. 
The final decision on all appointments rests with BC Ferries, who have the discretion to decline any nomination if they feel a nominee’s inclusion may not be a constructive addition to the FAC process. 

Representation 

Members should represent customer and stakeholder interests (e.g. Local government, First Nations, students, seniors, commercial/economic interests, tourism, Chambers of Commerce, Ratepayers’ Associations, and other community groups and organizations). 
BC Ferries reserves the right to directly solicit and appoint member(s) to represent interests it feels are not adequately represented on the committee. 
Current and former employees and Board members of BC Ferries are not generally eligible for appointment to a Ferry Advisory Committee. 

Chairperson 

• The committees are expected to appoint one of the members to serve as Chair. • FAC-BCF communication is carried out between the Chair and the Public Affairs 

Manager; all members are asked to send questions via the Chair.
• The Chair is a member of the FAC Chairs Committee (FACC); this group meets in person once per year, and otherwise communicates via email.
• A Chair who is within the last year of completing of a second FAC term is to prepare to handover the Chair position to a member who will be continuing on the FAC.
• Ideally, the Chair should not be someone in their first year on a FAC.
• One main role is not necessarily to bring the committee to consensus, but rather to ensure that all community perspectives being brought forth by FAC members are brought to the attention of BC Ferries. 

Responsibilities 
The Public Affairs Manager or their delegate is the key support person to the Executive Lead in the management and administration of the FAC process. 
Members are responsible for attending all committee meetings. 
Members and BC Ferries will work collaboratively and seek constructive solutions for both the community and BC Ferries. 

Ferry Advisory Committee – Terms of Reference Page 1 of 2 Revised - September 22, 2022 
Term 
 
Members are expected to serve a term of two years. At the end of each term, the membership will be reviewed and may continue a new, two year term. A review will be held at the end of each term completed.

Members who resign are requested to do so in writing to the Chair of the FAC and to the Public Affairs Manager. 

A new member may be appointed by the Chair (in consultation with BC Ferries) of the FAC to serve the remainder of the term of the member who has resigned. 
Expectations 

BC Ferries will provide the necessary background information for members’ consideration of local ferry service and to assist members in their response to questions. 

BC Ferries will respond to FAC’s advice on local ferry service by incorporating the input and/or by explaining why the input was not incorporated. 
FAC formal communications with BC Ferries should be directed to the Public Affairs Manager . 

Decision Making Process 
• The FAC ensures that ferry service issues are discussed thoroughly and all major points of view are represented and explored. General consensus is normally needed for the FAC to advise BC Ferries on a local ferry service issue. 

Meeting Process 

Notice of a meeting will be provided by BC Ferries to the FAC as far in advance of the meeting time as possible. 
The agenda for meetings is jointly set by the Chair and BC Ferries sufficiently in advance of each meeting to allow time to address agenda items. The Chair may consult FAC members prior to setting the agenda, which is finalized at the beginning of each meeting. 
BC Ferries will take summary notes of the meeting. These notes are not verbatim, but rather, a recorded summary of issues and relevant action items. Once drafted by BC Ferries, they are forwarded to the FAC Chair as soon as possible after the meeting. 
FAC meetings may be made open to the public, but are not ‘public meetings’. Presentations from members of the public or organizations are welcome, but must be scheduled prior to the meeting and included on the agenda. Presentations should generally be made at the beginning or end of the meeting, limited to five minutes each, and together take no more than 30 minutes at any one meeting. 
Meetings will occur in person twice each year, with a goal of holding meeting in spring (May/June) and another in the fall (October/November). 
Meetings shall be conducted in a mutually respectful manner. 

Resources 
BC Ferries will provide meeting materials and facilities. 
BC Ferries will reimburse FAC members for reasonable expenses incurred for regular FAC meetings. Travel and accommodation can be arranged by FAC members, but should be done in consultation with the Public Affairs Manager. 
Expenses incurred outside of regular FAC meetings must be approved in advance by BC Ferries. 

There is no remuneration to members for serving on the FAC. 

Ferry Advisory Committee – Terms of Reference Page 2 of 2 Revised - September 22, 2022