Ferries are lifelines for qathet Regional District residents, as well as British Columbians in other coastal communities. But not all ferry systems in Canada are treated equally.
A longstanding discrepancy exists in the way the federal government supports ferry transportation in the Maritime provinces compared with BC.
Federal subsidies cover key ferry routes such as those between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, or PEI and the mainland. These routes receive millions annually to maintain service, lower costs for passengers (which were cut in half earlier this week) and support regional economies.
On the west coast, residents shoulder a disproportionate financial burden. BC Ferries, which has terminals dotting the coast, including several frequented by local travellers (Westview, Little River, Blubber Bay, Saltery Bay, Earls Cove, Langdale and Horseshoe Bay), receives far less direct federal support. Instead, the province bears the brunt of funding, passing costs onto passengers by raising fares.
This disparity is unfair and short-sighted. BC’s coastal communities rely on ferries the same way Atlantic provinces do. The current funding model ignores this reality and treats BC Ferries more like a business than a public service.
Ottawa must recognize that equity in transportation means consistent federal support for all Canadians, regardless of the coastline. Differentiating Marine Atlantic because it is interprovincial is not valid reasoning. BC’s population is twice that of the Maritime provinces combined, and the routes are diverse and complex.
A re-evaluation of federal transportation funding is needed to reflect fairness, especially as inflation adds to the challenge of rural and coastal living. If ferry travel is federally supported in one region, it should be in all.
In recognition of national unity and fairness, Canada must bridge this funding gap, starting with BC Ferries.
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