Canada's budget sets CAD 1.3 billion for eastern ferry services

FerryCanada's Budget 2026 proposes CAD 1.3 billion over eight years, on a cash basis from 2026–27, to renew the Ferry Services Contribution Program until 2032. The programme supports the Eastern Canada Ferry Services. According to the budget document, the money also covers measures to keep the services running, such as new terminals at Wood Islands on Prince Edward Island and Caribou in Nova Scotia, and the charter of interim replacement vessels.

The BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union has criticised the package. The union says the federal government covers about 43% of the operating and maintenance costs of the Atlantic ferry services but about 3% for BC Ferries. Under a 1977 agreement, British Columbia receives CAD 37.8 million from Ottawa in 2025–26 to support BC Ferries, rising to CAD 39.05 million a year from 2026–27 to 2028–29, according to Transport Canada.

The union wants permanent federal funding for BC Ferries at a level comparable to Marine Atlantic's.

BC Ferries carried about 23.3 million passengers and ten million vehicles in the year to March 2026.

nov 11 2026