Ferry Workers Union Says Federal Budget Skipped BC Ferries Again, Calls on New Government to Act
The Ferry and Marine Workers Union says the federal budget provided no new money for BC Ferries, widening a gap in which Ottawa covers 43 per cent of Atlantic ferry operating costs but just 3 per cent in BC.
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The ferry workers union says the federal budget left BC Ferries without new funding, keeping a gap in which Ottawa covers 43 per cent of Atlantic ferry operating costs but just 3 per cent in British Columbia. The union is calling on Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson's incoming government to push Ottawa for a fairer deal.
CHEK News reported on November 6 that Ferry and Marine Workers Union president Eric McNeely expressed his disappointment after the Carney government's budget included no new money for BC Ferries. "This is the largest ferry system in North America, carries more people than all the other ferries in Canada combined. And gets less funding than the rest of ferries in Canada," McNeely told CHEK News.
The funding gap
The numbers McNeely cited put the federal contribution in sharp terms. Ottawa covers 43 per cent of the operating costs of Atlantic ferry services but just 3 per cent of BC Ferries' operating costs, CHEK News reported.
Federal NDP MP Gord Johns has calculated that gap in per-capita terms: British Columbians receive $6 each in annual federal ferry support, against $125 per person for residents of Atlantic Canada.
The fare warning
The funding gap matters because BC Ferries has already warned that fares may need to rise. CHEK News reported that shipbuilding costs have risen 40 per cent, and four new vessels together are expected to cost more than $1 billion. The company has cautioned that without more revenue, annual fare increases of 30 per cent may be needed by 2028.
A year-long regulatory review, Performance Term 7, is now underway before the BC Ferries Commissioner, who will set the maximum fare increases BC Ferries may charge for the next four-year period. That review includes a public consultation where ferry users across BC can submit comments.
The call on the new government
The union is now pressing the new BC Conservative government to take up the funding issue with Ottawa. CHEK News reported the call on November 6 without a response from Doerkson or the incoming government. Doerkson is expected to announce his cabinet on November 20.
What was promised
The Conservative Party of BC's 2026 platform, on page 29, promises to renegotiate the federal ferry funding agreement to get BC a share comparable to what Atlantic ferry services receive. That commitment has not yet been acted on. BC residents can follow the government's progress on that promise at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-federal-ferry-funding.
BC ferry users who want to comment on the Performance Term 7 fare review can do so through the BC Ferries Commissioner's public consultation, which is part of the year-long review now under way.
Questions this story answers
What did the Ferry and Marine Workers Union say about the federal budget and BC Ferries?
Union president Eric McNeely told CHEK News on November 6, 2026 that the federal budget included no new money for BC Ferries. He called the funding gap unjustifiable, saying the system is "the largest ferry system in North America, carries more people than all the other ferries in Canada combined. And gets less funding than the rest of ferries in Canada." The union is now calling on BC's new Conservative government to press Ottawa for a fairer deal.
How does the federal funding for BC Ferries compare to Atlantic ferry services?
According to the CHEK News report of November 6, 2026, the federal government covers 43 per cent of Atlantic ferry operating costs but just 3 per cent of BC Ferries' costs. Federal NDP MP Gord Johns has calculated that works out to $6 per capita in federal ferry support for British Columbians, against $125 per capita for Atlantic Canadians.
Why are BC Ferries fares expected to rise by 2028?
BC Ferries has warned that without more revenue, annual fare increases of 30 per cent may be needed by 2028. CHEK News reported on November 6 that shipbuilding costs have risen 40 per cent, and four new vessels together are expected to cost more than $1 billion. Those pressures, along with fuel and labour costs, are driving the warning.
What has the new BC Conservative government promised on BC Ferries federal funding?
The Conservative Party of BC's 2026 platform, on page 29, promises to renegotiate the federal ferry funding agreement to get funding comparable to what Atlantic ferry services receive. That platform commitment has not yet been acted on. BC residents can follow the government's progress on that promise at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-federal-ferry-funding.
Has Premier-designate Doerkson responded to the union's call?
CHEK News reported the union's call on November 6, 2026 without a response from Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson or the incoming Conservative government. Doerkson is expected to announce his cabinet on November 20.
What can BC ferry users do about potential fare increases?
BC Ferries has an open public consultation as part of its year-long Performance Term 7 regulatory review, which will set maximum fare increases for the next four-year period. Ferry users across BC can submit comments to the BC Ferries Commissioner during that process. BC residents can also follow the new government's decisions on the ferry funding pledge at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-federal-ferry-funding.
What is the Ferry and Marine Workers Union?
The Ferry and Marine Workers Union represents the workers who operate BC Ferries vessels. Union president Eric McNeely has been a public voice on the federal ferry funding gap, telling CHEK News on November 6, 2026 that the system serves more passengers than all other Canadian ferries combined while receiving the least federal support.
When will Premier-designate Doerkson announce his cabinet?
CHEK News reported on November 6, 2026 that Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson is expected to announce his cabinet on November 20, 2026. The ferry funding issue, and whether the new government will raise it with Ottawa, is likely to become clearer once ministers are named. BC residents can track the government's progress on the BC Ferries federal funding promise at /bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-federal-ferry-funding.
Sources
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