Canadian operators can now apply for grants for infrastructure and vessel projects
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Ferry operators across Canada are now eligible to receive grants for infrastructure projects as part of the New Building Canada Fund, thanks to a change in federal government rules.
Established in 2014, the original eligibility criteria for the fund excluded most ferry-related infrastructure projects related to ferries. However, the Canadian Ferry Operators Association (CFOA) and provincial governments have campaigned for the criteria to be revised by Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi.
Following discussions at a meeting of federal and provincial ministers of transport in January 2016, the criteria have now changed to enable ferry operators to apply for project funding.
Effective immediately, the changes enable ferry operators to apply to the New Building Canada Fund for building wharves and associated infrastructure; passenger terminals; access road infrastructures that provide the main vehicular access to the passenger ferry terminal; vessel purchase and/or conversion; and intelligent transportation systems in support of ferry services.
"Minister Sohi and the new government understand the importance of ferries for Canadians,” said Serge Buy, CFOA's CEO. “Access to the New Building Canada Fund will enable operators to make crucial investments that will benefit passengers and the communities served by ferries. Furthermore, the investments will help operators ensure safety on their vessels while also making sustainable improvements to their environmental efficiency.”
The CFOA expects that a number of modernisation projects will now be able to move forward, creating new employment opportunities across Canada and benefiting businesses that supply goods and services to ferry operators.