Defending Local Access to Ferries

Petition to the House of Commons

We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House to the following:

1. That coastal ferries in British Columbia are an essential service and an extension of its highway system;
2. That ferry service is the only reasonable mode of transportation available to reach certain communities, including Quadra Island, Cortes Island, Texada Island, Alert Bay, Sointula, and Powell River;
3. That residents in coastal communities rely on ferry service to work, study, travel, and seek medical care;
4. That the federal government inequitably subsidizes ferry service between Canada’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts;
5. That local residents where ferries operate deserve to be consulted and informed on decisions impacting this essential service.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, call upon the Minister of Transport to: establish a national framework for responsible ferry transportation that ensures equitable support and funding for ferry services on Canada’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts; ensure that the level of funding designated to support ferry services allows for affordable fares for all Canadians; encourage the development of ferry services through local input and consultation; and only support the construction of new ferries using federal tax dollars if they are made in Canada.