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Adjournment Proceedings

2026-06-09 Sitting 132 Showing 1–2 of 2

Debate on ferry funding, specifically for Vancouver Island and coastal BC. The NDP pressed the Liberals for more funding and support, while the Liberals mostly emphasized the importance of ferries and the support they've already provided during the pandemic. A fairly substantive exchange on the topic.

Official Hansard ↗

Gord Johns

NDP 12:00 p.m.

“I want the federal government to give more money to British Columbia for ferries. The government gives a lot more money to ferries in Atlantic Canada. I want the same for my province. I think it's unfair that British Columbia gets less money. The cost of ferry fares might go up a lot if the government doesn't spend more. I want the government to review and change the funding agreement. BC Ferries are important to the economy of Vancouver Island.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here I am again, tonight, at the hour of 12:14 a.m. Fair ferry funding is a critical issue to Vancouver Islanders and to coastal British Columbians. It is such a serious issue that it cannot go unanswered. I am sure that the Liberals were hoping I would not show up tonight, but here I am. I am here because ferry affordability, economic competitiveness and transportation equity matter to the nearly one million people who call Vancouver Island home and to the coastal communities that depend on BC Ferries every day. For many of my constituents, BC Ferries is not just a convenience; it is a necessity. It is a critical transportation link connecting people to work, health care, education, family and economic opportunity. The Liberal government recognizes ferries as essential transportation infrastructure in Atlantic Canada, but it continues to treat British Columbia differently. Last July, the Prime Minister announced a 50% reduction in fares on federally supported ferry routes in Atlantic Canada. That decision recognized an important reality. Ferry affordability matters because ferry transportation is essential infrastructure when we have the longest coastline in the world. I agree with that funding. The question is why the same principle does not apply to British Columbia. The people of B.C. pay the same federal taxes as Canadians living in Atlantic Canada, yet when it comes to ferry funding, we receive dramatically different levels of support. BC Ferries is one of the largest ferry systems in the world. It operates 25 routes, serves approximately 1,600 kilometres of coastline, maintains 47 terminals, operates a fleet of 37 vessels and carries more than 22 million passengers a year. According to the Library of Parliament, federal operational funding accounts for approximately 3% of BC Ferries' operating revenues. By comparison, federal funding covers approximately 43% of operating costs for federally supported ferry services in Atlantic Canada. This disparity is also evident on a per capita basis. British Columbians receive approximately five to six dollars per person in federal operational ferry support, while Atlantic Canadians receive approximately $125 per person. These numbers reveal a significant imbalance in how the federal government supports essential transportation infrastructure across the country. Let me be clear. This is not an argument against supporting Atlantic Canada. I support those investments. This is an argument for fairness. B.C. is currently in the midst of a ferry fare review. It is around their services. BC Ferries has warned that without additional funding, customers could face fare increases of more than 30% over the coming years. Reductions in services could also happen, or both. At a time when Canadians are struggling with the cost of living, that prospect should concern every member in the House, especially coastal MPs from B.C. The current funding framework is rooted in historical arrangements developed decades ago, when Vancouver Island had roughly half its current population. Today, Vancouver Island is approaching a million residents and is comparable to the size of New Zealand's South Island. It is home to a major regional economy that depends on reliable and affordable ferry transportation. If the current model no longer reflects the realities of modern Canada, then it is time for a review and a modification to fix this agreement. Vancouver Islanders and coastal people in B.C. should not have to become a province to qualify for fair federal support for essential transportation infrastructure from the federal government. If ferry affordability matters in Atlantic Canada, it should matter in British Columbia. I am calling for a real response tonight from the federal government. We need to see action for coastal British Columbians.

View on ourcommons.ca ↗

Gord Johns

NDP 12:20 p.m.

“I'm just going to argue my region deserves more money. I'll toss out numbers to make it sound like we don't get enough compared to other places. But I'm not going to mention the real trade-offs or whether the spending is worth it. I just want more for my area.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank my colleague for staying up late tonight to show up for this important debate. I am going to correct a couple of things. First of all, the pandemic relief that the federal government provided to BC Ferries was also provided to the east coast. It was equal in terms of per capita. Second, the loans that the member cited are repayable loans. Even with the loan interest at $26 million a year and the $38 million, when we look at loan savings per year over 25 years, that does not even come close to the hundreds of millions of dollars that the federal government subsidizes on the east coast. There are approximately 350,000 passengers on the east coast and 22 million at BC Ferries, yet the federal government gives hundreds of millions of dollars to Atlantic Canada, which we support, but they shortchange British Columbians. It has been far too long since the government has reviewed the essential ferry funding for British Columbians. It is time for the government to fix it. The population of Vancouver Island is more than the population of New Brunswick, more than that of Newfoundland and Labrador and P.E.I. together, and almost the same as that of Nova Scotia. This is long overdue. I am here at 12.22 a.m. not because I think this is fair. It is unfair.

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