To the Editor,
In the days of ‘Wacky Bennett’, usually the minister responsible (not an appointed spokesperson) addressed questions from the media.
But times have changed, as I noted during a recent TV interview with BC Ferries CEO, Mike Corrigan.
Noted, were Mr. Corrigan’s repeated answers reflecting how everything is set by “government policy” and “government decisions” under which he is bound to labour and obviously given the unenviable task of being the government’s spokesperson.
That aside, there was only one omission from questions posed to Mr. Corrigan on the topic of ‘where BC Ferries could raise revenue’: no mention of whether or not trimming executive compensation was considered.
Executive compensation for wages, benefits, perks, and bonuses for umpteen health-care policy-making “authorities” consume tax-payers’ dollars.
Those dollars could pay for those who actually deliver health-care, the same government business plan (paying middle-(private)-management to provide public services) applies to BC Ferries.
But there’s something wrong with the plan when the public’s service suffers and executives responsible for delivering it continue to enrich themselves on the taxpayers’ dime.
How about the old adage: “the buck stops here”?
I once heard where it’s customary, in China, to withhold a physicians payment until the patient shows signs of improvement if not fully recovers.
Maybe we should do the same here: withhold executive compensation from health-care and BC Ferries executives until service improves and nobody is waiting for health-care or passage on our watery section of Highway No.1 via BC Ferries.
Both are citizens’ rights and should not be held hostage by government-sponsored executive compensation.
Liz Stonard,
Port Alberni