Mayors Silas White (Town of Gibsons) and Andrew Leonard (Bowen Island
Municipality) have issued a formal call to Premier David Eby for immediate intervention to address the
ongoing deterioration of ferry service on BC Ferries Routes 3 (Langdale–Horseshoe Bay) and 8 (Snug
Cove–Horseshoe Bay).
In a detailed letter sent on April 25, 2025, the mayors describe a system in crisis, with frequent service
breakdowns, prolonged delays, and an absence of accountability across the organizations responsible for
coastal ferry operations. The most recent example over the Easter long weekend — including a vessel
breakdown and widespread service disruptions — left travellers stranded and communities scrambling to
respond.
“Premier Eby committed in 2023 to making BC Ferries a top priority,” said Mayor White. “Yet today, our
communities remain burdened by an unreliable service that affects not just travel plans, but our residents’
health, livelihoods, and businesses.”
The letter outlines four specific demands for provincial action:
- Creation of an accountable governance table that includes ferry-dependent local governments
alongside BC Ferries leadership and regulators. - Mandatory transparency in operational data, including real-time and historical performance
metrics at the route level. - Immediate service improvements for Routes 3 and 8, including increased vessel redundancy
and a clear timeline for vessel and terminal upgrades. - Reinstatement of meaningful community engagement structures to ensure ferry users have a
real influence on operational and capital planning decisions.
“Reliable ferry service is not a luxury—it is a fundamental public service, critical to the economic and
social wellbeing of ferry-dependent communities,” said Mayor Leonard. “The consequences of inaction are
profound and growing.”
The mayors have requested a written response by May 31, 2025, and a meeting with the Premier and
Minister of Transportation before the peak summer travel season.