BC Ferries just can’t win

There is an article in the Times Colonist today about how BC Ferries is not planning on adding earlier and later sailings during the Olympics. There are 19 events in Whistler and 12 in Vancouver that are too early for ferry-goers as well as 8 men’s hockey games that end too late to make the boat back.

This is where BC Ferries is damned if they do, and damned if they don’t. If they extend sailings, that requires additional staff and dealing with unions. They can’t guarantee that the ships will be full enough to be profitable, that could mean subsidies from the government (read: your taxes).

If they don’t extend their times, that means ticket holders will have to find accommodation in Vancouver (read: pricey and hard to find.) as well as the bad press from Islanders about not being able to get off the Rock.

BC Ferries has worked hard to make everybody happy. They have improved their fleet, upgraded amenities, tightened up scheduling, and yet they always get the flack. I think the real problem is how much event tickets cost. How is BC Ferries going to get out of this one with the least damage? What is your opinion on what they should do?