---
title: "Federal government backs Doerkson's plan for a 10-lane George Massey Bridge"
description: "Canada's transport minister said the federal government will support whatever type of Fraser River crossing the incoming BC Conservative government chooses, clearing the way for a bridge over an immersed tunnel."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/federal-government-backs-doerkson-massey-bridge-november-2026"
last_updated: "2026-11-02T14:27:02.411Z"
---

Canada's transport minister said on Oct. 30, 2026 that the federal government will support whichever type of Fraser River crossing BC's incoming government chooses, backing premier-designate [Lorne Doerkson](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson)'s plan for a 10-lane bridge. Daily Hive Vancouver reported the statement, made at a press conference in Delta.

"Let me just say, we support crossing that river, whatever way the Premier tells us to. How about that? And if the Government of British Columbia says it wants to construct a bridge, we're for a bridge," Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said, according to Daily Hive.

MacKinnon spoke while announcing that the federal government had granted national interest status to the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 superport project. He said the federal government wanted to work with Doerkson to complete the crossing quickly.

## The NDP argued the funding was at risk

The federal government announced in July 2026 that it would contribute up to $3 billion toward a replacement Fraser River crossing. That commitment was based on the $8.5-billion cost estimate for the NDP's immersed tunnel, announced at the same time and more than double the earlier estimate of $4.15 billion.

Outgoing Premier David Eby had argued that switching to a bridge would put that federal money at risk. An Oct. 16 BC NDP statement said the federal contribution would fall through if the Conservatives changed the project. MacKinnon's Oct. 30 remarks address that directly.

MacKinnon acknowledged it is not yet clear whether the contribution would be subject to a revised agreement, given the expected lower cost of a bridge. Doerkson said he had discussed the crossing with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

## What the platform promised

The Conservative platform committed to build a 10-lane bridge (page 11 and 57), publish its budget and schedule before construction starts (page 57), and ask the federal government to apply its contribution of up to $3 billion to the bridge rather than the tunnel (page 57). The platform said the bridge would be built within the $8.5 billion already set aside.

MacKinnon's Oct. 30 statement moves toward that third commitment. See the promise at the BC tracker: [George Massey Bridge](/bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-george-massey-bridge) and [federal contribution](/bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-george-massey-federal-contribution).

## Where the project stands

According to Daily Hive, early construction work on Deas Island has been underway since January 2026. Major construction contracts had not yet been awarded. The main private contractor chosen in 2024 was fired in June 2026 after the province and the firm failed to agree on terms.

Doerkson said at the Oct. 30 event that residents do not care whether the crossing is a bridge, a tunnel or, in his words, a treadmill. "They just want it done," Daily Hive reported him saying.

Residents can follow what the new government does on this promise at [/bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-george-massey-federal-contribution](/bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-george-massey-federal-contribution).

## Sitemap

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