Garneau says funding approved to remove Porpoise Bay wreck

There was good news for people concerned about derelict vessels, but bad news for people who want to stay on the car deck when taking a ferry to the Island from federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau on Thursday.

Speaking during a Facebook live town hall with West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP Patrick Weiler, Garneau said Ottawa has now funded the removal of eight derelict vessels from the waters of the riding.

Garneau also said one of the largest vessels sitting at the bottom of Porpoise Bay will soon be gone as well.

“Between now and March 31, Transport Canada will be exercising its authority under the Act to remove the sunken vessel the R.B. Green, at a $200,000 cost,” he said.

The R.B. Green sank in 2017 in a high traffic area between the government wharf and MacKenzie Marina at a site now marked with a floating “wreck” sign.

Garneau was also asked during the town hall in light of the new advisory against unnecessary travel, which has already led to a significant drop in ferry traffic, whether Transport Canada would renew the exemption for BC Ferries allowing passengers on lower car decks to remain with their vehicles.

Premier John Horgan said during a Nov. 18 press conference that he wanted to see that happen. “Transport Canada was premature in taking away the exemption that BC Ferries sought and was granted during the middle of the pandemic,” he said. “We've talked to BC Ferries about that, we’ve talked to Transport Canada about that and I'll continue to push this.”

Garneau told Weiler and the audience at the town hall that Transport Canada intends to remain firm in its decision to end the exemption on Sept. 30.

“To be very blunt, I have a responsibility for marine safety and it would be inexcusable if an accident occurred and a whole bunch of people got trapped on a closed deck,” Garneau said, adding that the exemption was offered at a time when COVID was still poorly understood. “Now that we have a better sense of what it is and how to manage it, we feel it is absolutely essential for people not to stay in their cars in closed decks. BC Ferries knows what to do with respect to ensuring the people maintain distances.”

Travellers on the Langdale-Horseshoe Bay route continue to be exempt from the regulation and are allowed to remain on the car deck during the crossing but the rule does apply to routes often used by Coasters, such as the Horseshoe Bay-Nanaimo and Powell River-Comox runs.