MLA Gary Coons, along with the leader of the provincial NDP Adrian Dix, sent a letter to the Premier’s office protesting a decision by BC Ferries to give outgoing CEO David Hahn an extra $237,000 pension on top of his regular public sector pension of $77,580.
This means that Hahn will be receiving a yearly pension in excess of $300,000 after working at BC Ferries for 10 years, something that Coons believes is “totally outrageous and uncalled for”.
Now that Hahn is getting almost an extra quarter-million dollars a year added to his pension after arguing that BC Ferries was so strapped for cash that it needed to double its northern fares, Coons and the rest of the NDP are up-in-arms.
“I think that British Columbians should see this as scandalous that the current government under Christy Clark would endorse this...[Hahn] will be entitled to this pension for life, and ferry user’s and tax payers will be paying for this for a long time,” says Coons.
Revelations about increased pension for a man who is already the province’s highest paid public employee, Hahn made over $1.1-million last year in pay and bonuses, are coming after the government steadfastly refused to consider a pay raise for teachers.
In response Coons and party leader, Adrian Dix, sent a letter to the premier demanding a review of the pension being offered to Hahn.
“During the BC Liberal leadership campaign, you remarked that it was inappropriate for Mr. Hahn to consider hiking ferry fares while he and other Executives at BC Ferries enjoyed exorbitant compensation packages full of public dollars. On that note, I anticipate you will follow through on our request,” reads the letter.
When this article had to press, the premier’s office had not made any response to the letter and the transport ministry could not be reached for comment.