British Columbia finance minister Colin Hansen said he disagrees with B.C. Ferry Services Inc.'s CEO David Hahn's attack on a finance ministry report that found, among other things, that Hahn is overpaid.
Hahn used words like "biased," "nonsense," "craziness" and "dumb" to describe the report by comptroller general Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland released earlier this month.
“He reports to his board of directors and he will have to be accountable to them over what he says and his actions,” said Hansen in a scrum with reporters. “I obviously don't agree with his comments. I think the comptroller general has done a very thorough and competent job.”
Wenezenki-Yolland did exactly what the government asked her to do, said Hansen. The government wants B.C. Ferries to act like a private sector business, but it also has to be accountable for the amount of funding it receives from the province, he said.
The provincial government's 2009-2010 budget for coastal ferries is $172 million. Hahn was paid over $1 million last year.
The government needs to do more to distance itself from Hahn's comments, said New Democratic Party Port Coquitlam MLA Mike Farnworth. “He used extremely strong language,” he said. “To use the language he did I think is provocative and inflammatory.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
10
Login or register to post comments
DPL
2 years ago
Time for the ferry primadona
Time for the ferry primadona to go find a job soehwere else and take a few other overpaid hacks with him
Skywalker
2 years ago
But will he fire him?
He gets paid a cool million a year and BC Ferries is in worse shape than when he took over. Will Hanson get rid of him? Nah, his severance package would probably start the revolution>
circle A
2 years ago
That`s about as tough...
as these business saavy liberal fakes dare speek to their betters, You can be sure if they try to get rid of david hahn he`ll have a severence package that will make the bc liberals look even more incompetent,if that`s possible.
SharingIsGood
2 years ago
Hahn over-rated and overpaid
The head of the Washington State Ferries(3rd largest ferry system in the world) has a salary of about $141,000.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004166557_ferryboss06m.html
BenZiegler
2 years ago
Where is the inclusive language?
Where is the inclusive language? I do not know Mr. Hahn personally. I have heard him interviewed many times on the radio. As a listener (and professional mediator) what strikes me most about him is his defensive, almost bully-like, choice of language when discussing issues. As the CEO of a major organization, in a world where recognizing intrinsic worth in others and collaborative dialogue is increasingly valued, his language presents a real disconnect for me. I assume that is not his intention?!
cfvua
2 years ago
How hard could it be?
Didn't Campbell and Klein's ol' buddy Paul Taylor "only" get about $225,000 to run ICBC. It sure seems odd that we need someone with Hahn's expensive talents to run a not for profit ferry system, that would more than likely run itself better.
Of course he's defensive, just like the kid that got away with eating all of his sibling's Halloween candy. Maybe we could get the guy from Washington for double the money and use the balance for fuel and ballast on the Gas Guzzler German boats that Campbell had to have.
Van Isle
2 years ago
As I remember it, Gordon
As I remember it, Gordon (Flip) Wilson appointed a fella named Bob Lingwood (@ $150,000 salary) after the fast ferry fiasco to rebuild the fleet. He was in that process when Gordo and his bunch were elected in '01 and basically scraped all the work that was done up to then. It was 2 years later than Mr. Hahn came onboard and more time was wasted in figuring out on how to rebuild the fleet and update the infrastructure. If he wanted to save some time and money he could have used Mr. Lingwoods plan. Mr. Hahn and his bunch of incompents have been running BC Ferries into the ground just as Gordo and his hacks have wanted to do since day 1. Why do I know this? Just look at Mr. Hahn's record with his previous postion at Ogden Aviation.
SafetyGuy
2 years ago
Crown corporation Mis-Management
I agree that an investigation should be maid regarding how Crown corporations are managed and how executives are compensated.
Reports have been made that, over the past 15 years, BC Place diverted $300,000 that was supposed to be used to heat the BC Place roof to ensure zero accumulation of ice on the Teflon Fibreglass membrane. These funds were unlawfully diverted to bonuses, and the Crown Corporation bypassed these manufacturer safe work procedures.
I believe that these acts and/or omissions contributed either wholly, or in part to the 2007 roof collapse.
According to Birdair, the roof manufacturer, allowing ice to form on the BC Place Teflon Fibreglass membrane would damage the membrane and adversely affect its structural integrity. The roof must be inspected and certified by an Engineer, without undue delay
I am impressed with the Crown Corpoation CEO's ability to suppress safety concerns and obstruct and inpede with a WorksafeBC Worksite Inspection.
freebear
2 years ago
The worst kind of CEOs....
sucking the taxpayers teats so hard are nips are tender; but not enough to vote the hacks out!
SafetyGuy
2 years ago
Further Audits necessary
I think Mr. Buckleys wages shoud be further audited to see if he benefited from the Crown Corporations choices to bypass the safe work procedures, necessary to keep the BC Place roof free if ice.
I believe that failing to do so contributed either wholly, or in part to the 2007 collapse. I believe damage still exist.
It would be interesting to see how the $325,000 / per year was re-directed. I think the roof should be certified by an Engineer.