$1.3 billion. That is the federal funding ferry services in Eastern Canada are set to receive over the next eight years, and the gap with what BC Ferries gets is turning heads.
According to reporting on the issue, the money in Eastern Canada is meant to support things like new terminals and replacement vessels. The framing of the story is a stark disparity in federal support between the two coasts.
Why it matters in Metro Vancouver
BC Ferries is not just an island thing. Terminals like Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay connect Metro Vancouver to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. For many people, ferries are the daily route to work, school, medical appointments and family. For visitors and the tourism economy, they are the gateway to the rest of coastal B.C.
When vessels age and terminals need upgrades, the cost eventually shows up in fares, schedules and reliability. That is why federal funding conversations land with everyday riders, not just policy wonks.
What we don’t know yet
We have not confirmed the exact federal figure for BC Ferries or any official response, so we are not putting numbers on the other side of the comparison. We will be watching for details.
Do you rely on the ferry? How would better funding change your trips? Tell us.
Shop Local: Wear Your City
Shades of YVR Science World Graphic Hoodie
Heavyweight, cozy and unmistakably Vancouver. Layer it up for a rainy-day walk along False Creek.
Shades of YVR Vancouver Downtown Graphic Hoodie
Downtown energy on a unisex fit you will actually want to live in. Wear your city proudly.
