B.C. government appoints special mediator in Kootenay Lake ferry strike

Akshay Kulkarni · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 30, 2025 5:58 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

The B.C. authorities has appointed a peculiar mediator successful a bid to resoluteness a months-long labour quality betwixt the workers and relation of the Kootenay Lake ferries.

Employees represented by the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) person been successful immoderate signifier of occupation enactment since October, and officially went connected onslaught connected Nov. 3, reducing the regular ferries to indispensable work levels only.

Private institution Western Pacific Marine operates the Kootenay Bay to Balfour ferry way crossed the lake, arsenic good arsenic cablegram ferries to and from the communities of Harrop, Procter and Glade, nether declaration by the B.C. government.

The 2 sides successful the labour quality person been astatine likelihood for months, with the BCGEU precocious filing a ailment with the Labour Relations Board and accusing Western Pacific of atrocious religion bargaining.

WATCH | Kootenay ferry occupation enactment to escalate: 

The institution denied those allegations successful a statement, saying its wage proposals person remained accordant and were successful nonstop effect to the union's proposals.

In a bid to resoluteness the occupation enactment that has near galore residents of the country frustrated and stranded, the B.C. authorities has present appointed seasoned labour mediator Vince Ready to enactment with the national and institution and perchance resoluteness the strike.

"Mr. Ready volition statesman enactment instantly to scope a settlement," work a connection from Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside connected Sunday.

"If a colony is not reached betwixt the parties wrong 14 days, helium volition contented recommendations to the curate and the parties."

The assignment of Ready was welcomed by the BCGEU, with president Paul Finch saying helium was pleased the authorities recognized the value of resolving the occupation enactment quickly.

"Our national volition supply each of the accusation indispensable for the mediator to execute their role, and we promote Western Pacific Marine to bash the same," helium said successful a statement.

WATCH | Residents signifier protestation arsenic onslaught goes on: 

In a connection sent earlier Sunday's announcement, Western Pacific wide manager Odai Sirri said the institution preferred binding arbitration to resoluteness the dispute, thing vehemently opposed by the union.

"While we enactment the Special Mediation process, we inactive judge that binding arbitration would supply the quickest, astir equitable solution by relying connected facts alternatively than rhetoric," helium said.

Concern implicit roadworthy closures

Those who instrumentality the Kootenay Lake ferry, from Balfour oregon Kootenay Bay, tin instrumentality Highway 3A to different communities.

However, the Kootenay Pass conception of Highway 3A is often closed during the acold months owed to avalanche power work.

LISTEN | Senior takes agelong detour owed to ferry strike: 

Issy Snelgrove, 85, precocious had to instrumentality a astir three-hour-long detour connected the road owed to the ferry going disconnected work sooner than she expected.

The Crawford Bay nonmigratory said she faced large issues with ferry availability erstwhile her girl had to spell to Trail, B.C., for country the time aft the onslaught began, and she knows others with wellness conditions who are unsure however to program their lives owed to the uncertainty astir the captious transport link.

"The union, the labour committee and Western Pacific Marine  — it's similar they're small kids playing a crippled and each trying to get the aforesaid answer," the elder said.

For residents successful Harrop, Procter and Glade, determination is no alternate to the cablegram ferry.

About 600 radical unrecorded successful the Harrop-Procter area, and astir 300 radical unrecorded successful Glade.