A commentary by a Saanich resident.
I am 82 years old and my breathing is laboured.
I was recently a passenger in a vehicle returning from the Interior. We did not have a ferry reservation so we suffered a two-sailing wait, and when we finally boarded the ferry, we were assigned to the “deck of doom.”
My friends got out of the vehicle to make their way upstairs. “You coming?”, they asked. “Nope,” I replied, “I need to snooze.”
“You know you’re required to go upstairs, but suit yourself.”
I put the seat back and napped quietly and contentedly for an hour, until my friends returned to take their dog to the pet area.
I resumed my nap for a few minutes until I was rapped awake by two navy guys in white shirts with epaulets on their shoulders.
“Sir, you are not allowed to be down here while the ferry is underway,” one said, telling me that he would escort me to an upper deck.
I began to explain my situation. I wanted to say that their demand was silly and that I would not accompany them.
The main guy cut me off. “I can’t hear you,” he said. It was then that my grumpy self replied, “Well, I can’t hear you either.”
Not my finest moment. They stormed off leaving a slip under the wiper.
Here is what it said:
“Exit enclosed vehicle decks on ferries while underway. The enforcement of this prohibition was temporarily relaxed during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic. This temporary flexibility has been removed as of September 30, 2020.
“It is prohibited by regulations to stay in your vehicle on enclosed deck.
“Staying on enclosed vehicle decks while a ferry is underway is too risky, unsafe and illegal.
“Risks exist due to fuelled vehicles, cargo in trucks and limited space for evacuation between vehicles parked tightly together. The closest escape route could become inaccessible during an incident and the enclosed space could rapidly be filled with smoke or water.
“Avoid fines. Transport Canada may issue fines up to $12,000 to any passenger for the unauthorized and illegal access to enclosed decks while a ferry is underway. An additional fine of up to $2,400 may be issued for not following the direction of the master or crew to leave the enclosed vehicle space.”
A few minutes after this note was left under the vehicle’s wiper, the usual announcement was made.
“We are nearing [meaning we are still underway] the Swartz Bay terminal. Will passengers travelling in vehicles on the lower deck [the enclosed deck of doom] please return to them now.”
Shouldn’t the passengers also be warned that what they are being asked to do is risky, unsafe, illegal and subject to fines up to $24,000? But if you don’t obey the crew’s order to return to your car a fine of $2,400 could be imposed?
When my friends returned, I told them of my ridiculous confrontation.
We all had a delightful chuckle about another inane government regulation.
We imagined Transport Canada’s meeting on Sept. 29, 2020, attended by the Bureaucratic Superior and several Bureaucratic Minions.
“Attention, people,” began the BS. “We have been given the power to and the task of authoring regulations. We haven’t been keeping up. Think, people! Find me something that ain’t broke and let’s fix it!”
“Oh, oh,” said one of the BMs, while waving his hand in the air, “We could reinstate the ‘no being on enclosed decks while a ferry is underway’ policy?”
“How many people have been harmed by not adhering to this safety regulation during the COVID pandemic?”
“Zero, sir, but to be honest no one has ever been harmed due to proximity to vehicles with fuel, or trucks with cargo, or vehicles parked close together.”
“But it could happen?” queried the BS, “Right?”
“Yes, sir,” answered the BM, “But during the 65 years of service by B.C. Ferries which now offer 85,000 trips per year, carrying more than two million passengers, it has never happened.”
“Thank you! This is what I’m talking about! We’ll reinstate that prohibition tomorrow. But remember there will be a number of grumpy old men needing a nap who will oppose it with logic and common sense.”
“Don’t worry, sir, B.C. Ferries has to deal with them, not us.”
