The chairman of the Bell Island Ferry Users Committee has had enough.
Tom Nolan fired off a detailed email to everyone from the provincial and federal human rights commissions to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlining his and ferry users’ long and ongoing frustrations with the service — particularly the policy of passengers having to leave their vehicles during the 15- to 20-minute ferry ride.
That policy, which was implemented last summer, is unfair to passengers with disabilities or who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment, he said.
“I am concerned regarding those with disabilities who are using our ferries and the position that our current government has taken with regards to one’s human rights,” Nolan’s email states. “There are many different aspects that I can go into with regards to elevator exiting on the exterior walkways, no ramps in place to enter lounges and so on, but I will only touch on one of these violations right now in hopes of finding out some information going forward.”
And that violation, according to Nolan, is the government’s failing to understand the concern of people undergoing chemotherapy treatment, and the risks to their health on the ferries because of a weakened immune system.
“Chemotherapy patients are told to avoid crowded places,” Nolan says. “The reasoning is neutropenia, basically a low white blood cell count. Chemotherapy drugs kill healthy white blood cells as well as the cancer cells. White blood cells are the body’s main defence against infection.
“A documented side-effect from such treatment includes vomiting and infection. This can delay treatment, put one in the hospital and could cause death. One is told to avoid crowded places while having chemotherapy treatments. There is no way to avoid this risk when forcing one to leave their vehicle and be placed in a room of 100-240 people.”
The provincial government implemented the policy of passengers having to leave their vehicles when the new ferries, the Legionnaire and the Veteran, came into the provincial ferry service.
Nolan said because of complaints from users, the provincial government agreed to do a risk assessment. In the meantime, he said, the government agreed to provide ambulance service to anyone with disabilities needing it. An ambulance is the only vehicle that a person can remain in while on the ferry.
This week, an ambulance was refused for a young man — who has pins in his ankle and difficulty moving — and that was the last straw, Nolan said.
“The agreement was that they would provide an ambulance for anyone with issues walking, health issues, etc.,” he said. “The government has decided to step away from the agreement. Even with a medical note from a doctor, they are not allowing you to stay in your vehicle.
“With these ferries, for anyone with a disability or health issue, the best option, really, is to allow them to remain in their vehicles.”
In the email, Nolan described issues with the three vessels that usually service Bell Island.
The Beaumont Hamel, he said, has a side lounge separated from the main lounge, but it is not accessible by elevator.
“The vessel’s elevator is loadable from the vehicle deck, but opens to the exterior of the passenger lounge and places individuals outside in the harshest conditions,” he said. “The main lounge is not wheelchair accessible.”
The Flanders, he noted, has an interior elevator with a small lounge area for those requiring wheelchair access.
“The lounge is regularly overloaded and those with walking aids are forced to remain standing during the voyage, which puts them at fall risk,” he said.
The Legionnaire has been in service on the run for about three months of the last eight due to it and its sister ship being plagued with mechanical problems, he noted.
“This vessel has two large lounges and is wheelchair accessible, with a separate disability washroom,” Nolan stated. “There is no separate lounge on this vessel for those with disabilities.
“Our position as a committee, and the reason for asking for the risk assessment to occur, was due to our fears that the enactment of the policy of vacating vehicles would put our users with disabilities at risk.
“We feel the policy is unfair to those with medical disabilities, and retracting what was already in place until a valid risk assessment is completed violates the Human Rights Act.”
