B.C. Ferries has been bleeding money and customers for a while now, and the B.C. Ministry of Transportation has launched a public review of its operations to find ways to save money.

To participate in the review, click here.

There is a ton of information here, as the government breaks down all the various costs of the Ferry service. Some tidbits that grabbed my attention at first glance:

• While generally profitable, even the major routes (Lower Mainland-Victoria, Lower Mainland-Nanaimo) have several sailings at less than one-third capacity. Duke Point-Tsawwassen is the big money loser there: nearly $30 million.
• Taxpayers subsidize every vehicle travelling the Port Hardy-Mid-Coast-Prince Rupert route by $2,364.72. That route lost $28.6 million last year.
• Several Swartz Bay-Gulf Island sailings sit at less than 10% capacity. This is a pattern repeated on after supper sailings across the minor routes.
• The Port McNeill-Sointula-Alert Bay route averages 0.0% capacity on its Thursday and Saturday final night sailings.
• Skidegate-Alliford Bay (in the Haida Gwaii) has dozens of sailings at less than 20% capacity.

We’ll be watching this closely, and crunching more of these numbers in the weeks to come.