Ian Jarvis replaced as TransLink CEO to “restore public confidence”
Doug Allen named interim CEO of regional transportation authority
With ballots for the transportation plebiscite a month away from being mailed out, TransLink is switching chief executives.
The regional transportation authority announced today (February 11) that Ian Jarvis is out as CEO.
Doug Allen, former CEO of Canada Line operator InTransit BC, is in as interim TransLink CEO.
“The Board and the organization are committed to improving transit service and transportation in Metro Vancouver. The Board of Directors is listening to customers and the public regarding the need for change and has taken action," Marcella Szel, chair of the TransLink board of directors, said in a news release.
“The person selected as the permanent CEO will be responsible for meeting the challenges of a growing region that expects to see one million new residents in the next 30 years. Either there will be major new investments to implement or there will be the challenge of underfunding. Regardless, TransLink must restore public confidence, and new leadership is the first step.”
Jarvis, who became CEO in 2009, will continue to be paid as an advisor to the TransLink board until his contract ends in June 2016.
The TransLink board has struck a search committee to look for a new CEO over the next several months.
Allen is not seeking the CEO job on a permanent basis.
“During this transition period, Mr. Allen will provide excellent leadership on all priorities, including meeting aggressive targets on the Compass program, implementing recommendations from the independent review of the SkyTrain outages, and moving forward on actions to improve safety and service for our customers,” Szel said.
Public confidence in TransLink has been shaken by major SkyTrain outages last year, and numerous delays in the rollout of the Compass card.
The B.C. NDP blamed the B.C. Liberal government for TransLink's woes.
“It’s clear that residents of Metro Vancouver have lost confidence in the management at TransLink. With the replacement of CEO Ian Jarvis, the B.C. Liberal government is trying to duck their responsibility for the lack of transparency and accountability from their hand-picked board. Last year when the government tinkered with the governance structure they themselves forced on TransLink, it was clearly not good enough. Now, by basically directing the board to the decision to replace the CEO, the minister is admitting failure," George Heyman, the NDP critic for TransLink, said in a statement.
“You can’t take this government at their word anymore. It’s time for the minister and Premier Clark to accept responsibility for their failed TransLink governance scheme and give control back to the locally elected people to assure voters there will be accountability going forward.”
Comments
10 Comments
Natty
Feb 11, 2015 at 1:18pm
Trust doesn't come simply because there's been a power shift. The new CEO needs to prove he or she can act in the best interests of the region and transportation systems. A rose by any other name...
Robert Boshaw
Feb 11, 2015 at 1:19pm
Regardless of who runs that operation, I will not vote to pay extra tax for something that is already publicly funded. Take some of the carbon tax that already hits the province's coffers and fund and mass transportation initiatives with that instead. I am a Citizen, not an ATM.
Anonymous
Feb 11, 2015 at 2:15pm
Regardless, a Yes vote is critical to the health of the region. More people being able to chose cycling and transit means fewer traffic injuries and falatities. Also, increased physical fitness will reduce health care costs. Pledge to vote at http:/:bccc.bc.ca/yes
voting no for sure now
Feb 11, 2015 at 3:38pm
I wouldn't say that being retained as an advisor until his contract ends at full pay is being fired. This is the main reason that I will not give the provincial government which acually runs the show at TransLink another penny - they are just using this loser as a scap goat and the folly will not end with him gone. We won't know who replaces this idiot until after the vote. It could be his brother.
Tommy Khang
Feb 11, 2015 at 3:55pm
Surprised that the Georgia Straight didn't include the fact that he will also be receiving his full salary until 2016 as well ($300K+)...
So Translink is going to have two individuals drawing two ceo-type salaries, while also paying a search firm to hire another CEO, how this restores public confidence in the organization is beyond me but OK.
cochrane
Feb 11, 2015 at 4:09pm
Translink should try to get Tom Prendergast back into their ranks. A man of decision and action; remember the efficiency in rehabilitating the Patullo bridge after the structural fire? He probably went back to New York, pushed out by the parochial attitude of top level CEO's, and would rather fly with the eagles than the divas. Now, his salary can be justified!
Waste Land
Feb 11, 2015 at 4:35pm
Just wondering why a government Monopoly needs a CEO when the board and operational heads and/or Accounting Auditors can report to the Minister every month.
Not like the Ministers busy doing real work like the rest of us, lol.
The money saved could go toward one more Bus.
The next CEO (why does Translink really need one?) should be paid 50% less than the Prime Minister of Canada.
Currently the CEO gets paid well over 100K MORE than the friggin Prime Minister of Canada!!!
What's wrong with Translink "corporate" aka Government monopoly Governance model?
cranky mom
Feb 12, 2015 at 12:45pm
Transtink board should take the bus everyday, pay for their fare, take a fair wage. Then maybe people might start to take you seriously.
Anonymous
Feb 12, 2015 at 2:23pm
Unless the rest if the appointed Biard are following him out the door, not good enough.
Pay them severence and escort them from the building.
It is done all the time in the Private sector. Its cheaper in the long run...
This appointed Board is paid at Private sector rates, yet we seem unable to rid ourselves of them...as if they gad been elected for a term. Selective attitude.
If we are treating them like this were a private company, public perception is reason enough to kick them to the curb.
Kevin Falcon removed local control from Translink because he had a hissy fit.
Pretty sure Christy and Stone could restore that control just as quickly.
No reason not to - it wasn't Christy's Liberals who did this, and her government is 'different'...right?
Return control to the region.
Otherwise, the vote is No.
No
Feb 12, 2015 at 2:34pm
A change in figurehead is only a change of the figurehead.
Throwing Jarvis under the bus achieves nothing.
The public is aware of Victoria's behind-the-scenes intereference and actual control of Translink, so, either bring it out into the light and take responsibility, or get out of the way and let the region have authority.
The current situation is unacceptable.
At least if the Mayors screw up, we know where to find them, and can 'fix' the problem every four years.
Translink was better run, more efficient, and much more transparent and accountable under the original governance. Since Falcon changed that to create a political football, Translink has become one of the most hated organizations going. I have lived here my whole life, so I remember when Hydro ran the bus system...some 'experiments' are failures, and this one surely is. Smart politicians recognize a failure, and make a big deal of correcting it...dumb ones try to pass the buck to someone else.