More ferries, more often will make life better for Island residents.

“People who live in Nanaimo and Gabriola will soon see a big jump in annual round trips,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “I am pleased that along with frozen fares, locals will enjoy over 300 additional annual round trips per year.”

The Province is contracting with BC Ferries to add 2,700 additional round trips to schedules on 10 routes. This is in addition to the changes that were implemented in April 2018 to reduce fares on the smaller and northern routes by 15%, freeze fares on the major routes and restore free passenger travel for seniors, Monday through Thursday.

The ministry worked with BC Ferries to respond to the BC Ferry Advisory Committee chairs’ request to restore some services that were cut in 2014. The ministry reached an agreement with BC Ferries to return these services over the next year, with the majority already in operation as of April 1, 2019. The additional services on the Nanaimo Harbour to Gabriola Island route will begin on April 27. Ferry fares will continue to be frozen this year.  

“Our government is delivering results by putting the public interest first,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “The more than 750,000 passengers who travel on the Gabriola route each year, and the Island economy that depends on them will benefit from these improvements to ferry service.”

Recently introduced legislation will strengthen the Coastal Ferry Act to better serve the needs of people in coastal communities. Once in force, these amendments are intended to re-frame the model to better reflect public interest and the view that ferry services are an integral part of B.C.'s transportation network.

Quick Facts:

• Government introduced legislation to enshrine public interest in the Coastal Ferry Act on April 3, 2019.
• On Feb. 22, 2019, the provincial government announced increased service on 10 ferry routes that were cut in 2014, restoring 2,700 round trips for people living in coastal communities.
• The additional services on the Gabriola to Nanaimo route will begin on April 27, 2019.