Campbell Liberals in no rush to tighten security on ferries

Transport minister will travel overseas this fall to talk with British officials

Vancouver (1 August 2007) – B.C. Ferries hopes but isn't promising to introduce precautions against terrorism and violence on its fleet of vessels. It will be 2008 at the earliest before anything significant is done.

Kevin Falcon, transportation minister in the cabinet of B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, announced the 'plan' this week, two days after a bomb threat shut down ferry traffic for five hours between Vancouver Island and the Tsawwassen terminal on the mainland.

Falcon said he asked deputy ministers in the transportation and the solicitor general's departments a year ago to review ferry, airline, highway and skytrain security. What, if anything, has come out of the review he didn't say. He did announce plans to visit England this fall for consultations with British subway and ferry security officials.

Despite his leisurely timetable, Falcon claimed that "this issue of security is something high on the province's radar screen."

He said measures such as sniffing dogs – used at Washington State terminals – and passenger screening will be considered. However, he left no indication that either option is likely to be adopted soon. The province does not want to introduce any more security than necessary, he said.

$3.9 million in federal money

B.C. Ferries, which is owned by the province but managed privately, says it is currently spending $3.9 million – in federal funding – to enhance security at its terminals in areas such as new fencing and security cameras. No additional details have been released.

At the moment, B.C. Ferries does not check passengers, luggage or vehicles, nor does it keep a passenger manifest for its main routes. Lists have been compiled on three northern ferries after the sinking of the Queen of the North last year.

Transport Canada plans to hold public consultations this fall on the possibility of including domestic ferries under its federal marine transport security regulations.

Employees of B.C. Ferries are represented by the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers' Union, an affiliate of the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU/NUPGE). NUPGE