BC NDP promises reserved ferry booking spaces for Sunshine Coast and Powell River residents
The BC NDP says it would set aside 12 per cent of advance booking space on two BC Ferries routes for people who live in ferry-dependent communities.
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The BC NDP says it would pilot a program that reserves part of the advance booking space on two BC Ferries routes for people who live in those communities, if the party wins the October 24 provincial election.
Premier David Eby announced the proposal over the weekend. According to Daily Hive Vancouver, the plan would hold 12 per cent of advance booking space for residents on the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale and Powell River-Comox routes. Daily Hive reported that 10 per cent of that space would be held for locals until four days before departure, and a further 2 per cent would stay reserved until 24 hours before sailing. These percentages apply to available advance reservation capacity, the article says, not to total ferry capacity.
The Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route connects Metro Vancouver with the Sunshine Coast. The Powell River-Comox route connects Westview terminal in Powell River with Comox on Vancouver Island.
Randene Neill, the NDP candidate for Powell River-Sunshine Coast, said in the Daily Hive article that the change would help people who depend on ferries: "People who live here need to know they can get on a ferry when they need to, especially during busy travel periods."
Eby framed the proposal as a question of how ferry-dependent communities access basic services. Daily Hive quoted him saying: "Ferries are not a luxury for coastal communities, they are critical infrastructure. People rely on them for everything from medical appointments to seeing loved ones."
The NDP has not published a cost for the reservation program. The party describes it as a pilot project.
If you live on the Sunshine Coast or in Powell River and want to know what the parties are promising on ferry service, advance voting for the provincial election runs October 16 to 21. Voting day is October 24. Visit /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp to read about the party's full platform.
Questions this story answers
What did the BC NDP announce about BC Ferries?
The BC NDP said it would create a pilot program that sets aside 12 per cent of advance booking space on two BC Ferries routes for people who live in those communities. The party made the announcement over the weekend of October 11, 2026. Ten per cent of that reserved space would be held until four days before departure, and another two per cent would remain reserved until 24 hours before the sailing.
Which ferry routes would the reservation pilot cover?
The two routes named in the NDP's announcement are Horseshoe Bay to Langdale and Powell River to Comox. The Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route connects Metro Vancouver with the Sunshine Coast. The Powell River-Comox route connects Westview terminal in Powell River with Comox on Vancouver Island.
How much advance booking space would be reserved for locals?
The NDP says 12 per cent of advance booking space would be held for local residents across both routes. Of that, 10 per cent would be held until four days before departure. A further 2 per cent would stay reserved until 24 hours before the sailing. The percentages apply to the available advance reservation space, not to total ferry capacity.
Who announced this ferry booking policy?
Premier David Eby announced the proposal over the weekend before October 11, 2026, as part of the BC NDP's platform for the October 24 provincial election. Randene Neill, the NDP candidate for Powell River-Sunshine Coast, also spoke in support of the plan, saying residents need to know they can get a ferry when they need to, particularly during busy travel periods.
What has David Eby said about why ferries matter to coastal communities?
According to Daily Hive Vancouver, Eby said: 'Ferries are not a luxury for coastal communities, they are critical infrastructure. People rely on them for everything from medical appointments to seeing loved ones.' He also said the party wants to make it easier for locals to get where they need to go while welcoming visitors who support small businesses.
Is this policy already in place, or is it a campaign promise?
This is a campaign promise. The BC NDP is proposing the pilot project as part of its platform for the October 24, 2026 provincial election. The program would only start if the party is re-elected. No legislation or order has been passed to implement it yet.
When is the BC provincial election?
Voting day is Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from Friday, October 16 to Wednesday, October 21. You can find information about where to vote on the Elections BC website at elections.bc.ca.
Where can I find more information about BC election transportation promises?
Voche.me is tracking party platforms and campaign promises for the 2026 BC provincial election. You can read about the BC NDP's platform and compare it with other parties at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp. For a full list of candidates in your district, visit /bc/provincial-2026 and select your riding.
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