Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his work and for his advocacy on this important issue.
As I mentioned before, ferry services in Canada are a lifeline for communities to get goods to market and support the economy. BC Ferries is one of the largest ferry operators in the world. It provides an essential public service that plays a critical role in the day-to-day lives of British Columbians, in terms of bringing together smaller communities and facilitating connections to key services such as doctor's appointments and education.
We are very well aware of the importance of the ferries to these communities. That is why, since 1977, we have provided an indexed annual contribution to the Province of British Columbia for the coastal ferry service within the province. This year alone, it is nearly $38.6 million. In exchange for an annual grant, the Province of British Columbia assumes sole responsibility for determining which ferry services receive financial assistance, and the Government of Canada was relieved of all obligations related to the funding and operation of ferry service within the province. In addition to the grant, we also provide funding to BC Ferries.