VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today launched a campaign and petition to push the B.C. government to make BC Ferries more accountable to taxpayers – and cut back executive salary and bonuses. (Photo Flickr/Kam Abbott)
The petition calls for changes to BC Ferries’ enabling legislation to make the corporation subject to government rules around executive compensation, bonuses and collective bargaining mandates – and to make BC Ferries directly accountable to the Minister of Transportation.
“BC Ferries’ board and executives are a system gone sour: an endless repeating loop of big raises, outrageous bonuses and more handouts from taxpayers,” said Jordan Bateman, the CTF’s B.C. Director. “The best way to rein in reckless spending is to make the spenders accountable – let’s change the law and make it happen.”
Bateman noted that Transportation Minister Todd Stone has given BC Ferries 30 days to reassess their bonus structure.
“We’ve had lots of talk from lots of transportation ministers on BC Ferries over the years – but no permanent solution,” said Bateman. “We’re weeks away from the announcement of major service cuts and taxpayers deserve to know those cuts are starting at the top.”
BC Ferries CEO Mike Corrigan took home $563,000 in compensation last year. BC Ferries VP Robert Clarke made $492,207 last year, including a $133,711 bonus, while VP Glen Schwartz made $491,643, including a $127,008 bonus. In comparison, Washington State Ferries’ CEO David Moseley made $165,943. Moseley is directly accountable to Washington’s governor, not a board of directors – a model the CTF supports.
The BC Ferries board of directors doled out the bonuses despite the fact that the corporation is about to cut sailings, raised fares and took an extra $80 million in subsidies from B.C. taxpayers last year.
“It is hypocritical for the BC Ferries executive to cut any service to the public without starting with their own salaries, pensions and bonuses,” said Bateman. “This should be an absolute deal breaker for the provincial government – it’s time to sink the BC Ferries executive gravy boat by making them accountable to taxpayers for their actions.”
To view the CTF’s campaign page and to sign the petition, click here.
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