---
title: "Ferry Workers Union Says Federal Budget Skipped BC Ferries Again, Calls on New Government to Act"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-ferries-union-federal-budget-federal-funding-november-2026"
last_updated: "2026-11-08T19:24:21.327Z"
---

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](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/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/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.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.