Premier Eby calls for “basic fairness” for B.C. ferry users during Ottawa trip

Premier David Eby said he had “productive” meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney and several senior officials during his two-day trip to Ottawa.

Eby is in Ottawa largely to promote major B.C. projects, but also on the agenda were discussions around public safety, immigration, border security, and bail reform.  

His visit comes amid swirling questions about a federal loan for B.C. Ferries’ to build four new major vessels with a Chinese state-owned shipyard.

The Canada Infrastructure Bank provided B.C. Ferries with $1 billion in low-interest loans to support the purchase. 

The Globe and Mail reported this week that Transport Canada knew weeks in advance that B.C. Ferries’ planned to contract China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard for the vessels.

However, when that decision was announced publicly in June, then-transport minister Chrystia Freeland said in a letter to her B.C. counterpart, Mike Farnworth, she was “dismayed” to hear of the deal. She asked him to confirm “no federal funding would be diverted to support the acquisition of these new ferries.” 

After meeting with the newly appointed Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon in Ottawa, Eby said he wants “basic fairness” on ferry subsidies from the federal government.

He said ferry riders on Canada’s East Coast are federally subsidized at $300 per ferry user, while B.C. gets just $1 per ferry user.  

“Out east, the federal government paid for the entirety of the cost of the ferry that was purchased by the Maritime Ferry Authority — when built in a Chinese shipyard, by the way — and when you’re out west, the federal government offered a lower interest loan for our ferries,” said Eby.  

The Ala’suinu ferry entered service on east coast routes in July 2024. It was built by China Merchants Jinling Weihai Shipyard. 

“Asking for that fairness has been a core part of the message and, unfortunately, something that’s been lost a bit in the conversation here,” said Eby.