As BC Ferries gets ready for the first of several upgrade projects at the Langdale terminal, the province is waiting to see how much federal infrastructure money flows into those projects and others the ferry company has planned.
BC Ferries is currently rolling out a $3.1 billion, 12-year capital plan. Work at the Langdale and Horseshoe Bay terminals is included in that plan.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi announced in April that BC Ferries would be eligible for funding under the New Building Canada Plan.
BC Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said this week that the company is “in the process of preparing applications” but can’t release details about which projects are involved. She also explained that the applications will go through the province.
The other piece of the federal funding puzzle for BC Ferries is a 1977 deal between the province and Ottawa. It guarantees an annual grant indexed to the Vancouver Consumer Price, amounting to about $28.7 million for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
On a recent swing through Atlantic Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters his government was committed to supporting ferry service for Canadians.
A spokesperson for the B.C. Ministry of Trans-portation and Infrastructure said the province will “continue to advocate for a more equitable share of the funding the federal government allocates each year for ferry operations on both coasts.”
Officials with Transport Canada told Coast Reporter there are no discussions at this point about changing the 1977 grant agreement.
