BC Ferries yet to tackle executive bonuses

BC Ferries isbeing heavily criticized after it emerged there is still no plan to curbexecutive bonuses despite pledges to get such compensation under control.

In August,it was revealed that BCFerries had nearly doubled bonuses for some senior executives, despite falling ridership and rising fares.

• Read more about the BC Ferries bonuses

The revelation prompted the province to order BC Ferries' board of directors to report back within one month witha plan to get such compensation under control. Two months on, the plan has still not been delivered.

B.C. Premier ChristyClark said the issue needs to be dealt with.

"I certainly want to get to a resolution on it, you know I'm not happy with these constant reports about the remuneration at the top of BC Ferries," said Clark.

"Most people who take BC Ferries, when you're shelling out almost a hundred dollars to get your family back and forth on the system, aren't happy about how much those guys get paid and neither am I."

But NDPleader Adrian Dix said the premier needs to stop just talking the talk and actually take some action.

"In 2011 these reports came out, the premier huffed and puffed and did nothing. In 2012 the reports came out, the premier huffed and puffed and did nothing. In 2013, now she's huffing and puffing again and doing nothing."

Dix said a few simple changes to the legislation governing BC Ferries would easily deal with this issue.

JordanBateman of the CanadianTaxpayers' Federation delivered a petition to B.C. Transport MinisterTodd Stone calling for immediate action.

"What our supporters are saying is do whatever it takes to solve this problem once and for all. We're tired of hearing about it year after year after year," said Bateman.

BC Ferries said its board of directors is actively working on the issue, but there's no timeline for that to be completed.