Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table this petition, which was signed by residents of my riding just this last weekend. They highlight that ferries are essential marine highways that connect coastal communities, workers, families, businesses and supply chains to the rest of Canada. Vancouver Island is approaching one million residents and BC Ferries carries more than 22 million passengers annually.
According to an analysis by the Library of Parliament, BC Ferries received approximately $1.63 in federal operational support per passenger in 2024-25, compared to $291 for federally supported east coast ferry systems. Canadians in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia deserve strong federal ferry support because these services are part of essential national transportation infrastructure.
The petitioners also highlight that current federal ferry funding agreements rely on outdated constitutional arrangements and formulas created decades ago when Vancouver Island had roughly half its current population. Vancouver Island and coastal communities should not have to become separate provinces in order to receive fair ferry funding from the federal government. It is no longer sustainable to operate one of the world's largest ferry systems without stable, long-term federal operational support.
The petitioners cite that they want the government to modernize federal ferry funding policies and provide fair, stable, long-term federal operational support for BC Ferries as essential national transportation infrastructure.