BC Ferries to be eligible for Federal funding under Safe Restart Agreement

The BC Government has  been successful in gaining
access to federal funding for BC Ferries

Premier John Horgan has found success in his efforts to have BC Ferries included in federal funding programs as part of transit restart initiatives delivered across Canada.

The announcement towards the Province of British Columbia's success came today as Jonathon Wilkinson, the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate change relayed the welcome news for the management of the provincial marine transportation service.

“British Columbians from all corners of the province rely on BC Ferries for safe transit to get to work, visit loved ones and explore B.C. The Safe Restart Agreement, a partnership between the federal government and the Government of B.C., will ensure BC Ferries continues to provide these essential services.”

With the funding now secured it will be up to the Province to determine how to put the federal money to use for BC Ferries, providing for its own matching funds towards the efforts. A topic which Claire Trevena, the provincial Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure addressed today.

“Ensuring BC Ferries’ eligibility for Safe Restart funding reflects our shared values on the importance of our transit and ferry systems to the health of B.C. communities. This is another example of the positive relationship we have with the federal government. By working together in response to the impacts of COVID-19, we can ensure essential transportation is available to support a safe restart of the B.C. economy.”

What the funding will be put towards is currently the subject of a task force consisting of the province, BC Ferries and the BC Ferries Authority board, who will bring forward what the are calling a comprehensive relief proposal for the province to consider.

Further details to today's funding announcement can be reviewed here.

As we outlined in late July, BC Ferries and the BC Ferries Authority Board had already telegraphed a few of their financial concerns as part of the run up to their Annual Public Meeting which takes place later this month.

Accounts of some dire financial circumstances should there be no financial lifeline offered by the Federal government  had been heard in recent weeks, that as the COVID pandemic delivered a huge hit to the Ferry service and its revenue streams.

For more notes on the Marine Transportation service along Coastal BC see our archive page here.