It’s time we got our fair share

Last week, the federal government announced a $32-million investment in ferry infrastructure in Prince Edward Island. The contract went to Dexter Construction, a Canadian company based in Nova Scotia.

“Investments like this support economic growth in Eastern Canada,” Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said in announcing the project.

We agree. But why is B.C. treated differently than Eastern Canada?

Ottawa directly funds three ferry services in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec through its Ferry Services Contribution Program. Transport Canada owns four ferries and six shore facilities used by those services and funds operations, capital repairs and dredging around ferry terminals.

In 2024-25, the three ferry services cost the federal government about $85 million, including capital investments. About $65 million went directly to the ferry operators. That same year, B.C., meanwhile, received only $36.9 million from Transport Canada to support our coastal ferry services.

B.C. first pushed for federal funding in the 1970s because ferries were part of the national highway system and federal support between provinces was unequal. An agreement for an annual federal grant allowed B.C. to choose which ferry operator would receive it.

Today, BC Ferries operates 25 routes from 47 terminals along 1,600 kilometres of coastline. Last year, it carried 22.7 million passengers and 9.7 million vehicles, much higher volumes than ferry operators in Atlantic Canada.

But when BC Ferries needed help financing new ships and terminal upgrades, it didn’t get federal investment, it got a loan. The Canada Infrastructure Bank is lending BC Ferries up to $1 billion for new ferries, which will be built in a government-owned shipyard in China.

When the federal government announced plans to replace two Eastern Canada ferries in 2019, it required the use of a Canadian shipyard. Ottawa said building the vessels in Canada would support good jobs, strengthen the Canadian marine industry and generate economic growth.

Ottawa’s new Buy Canadian policy uses public purchasing power to support Canadian businesses, supply chains and jobs.

If spending $32 million on ferry infrastructure in P.E.I. creates jobs and strengthen communities, isn’t the same is true when investing in ferries that will serve British Columbians for the next 40 or 50 years?