FERRIES BOSS WANTS DRUG TESTING

BC Ferries president and CEO David Hahn believes mandatory and random
drug testing in the transportation industry should be adopted in Canada.

Hahn issued a statement after the Transportation Safety Board (TSB)
issued a board concern to BC Ferries about marijuana use aboard ferries.

The notice was issued as part of the ongoing investigation into the
sinking of the Queen of the North on March 22, 2006. It was issued
after the TSB learned that several crewmembers of the Queen of the
North regularly smoked pot between shifts, both on board and off the
vessel. "The board stressed that there is no evidence that the crew
members on the bridge at the time of the accident were impaired," the
notice stated.

"Ferry crews whose performance is impaired by cannabis are a clear
risk to the travelling public," stated Wendy Tadros, chairwoman of the
board. "We are confident that BC Ferries will determine the extent of
the problem and effectively manage this risk so it will not lead to a
serious accident."

TSB asked BC Ferries to first determine whether crewmembers on other
vessels are regularly smoking marijuana or whether it was isolated to
the Queen of the North.

The TSB wants the company to review its alcohol and drug policies and
stated it will monitor the company's progress as part of the
investigation into the sinking of the Queen of the North.

Hahn stated BC Ferries has had a drug and alcohol abuse policy in
place since 1997 and a zero-tolerance policy for all crewmembers since
2005.

If marijuana was being used by any crewmembers of the Queen of the
North, or any other vessel, it is a clear violation of the company's
zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy, Hahn also stated. BC Ferries
has communicated this policy many times and in many different ways to
all of its employees, including small group sessions with each
employee who works on the northern vessels, Hahn added.

BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union has said that it doesn't support
drug testing of its members on privacy grounds. The Peak could not
reach Jackie Miller, president of the union, before deadline.