The Canadian Ferry Association (CFA) participated in the Building Ferries in Canada Summit, convened by Transport Canada at the direction of Transport and Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland. The Summit brought together key stakeholders from across the country, including representatives from the shipbuilding and steel industries, labour organizations, ferry operators, and provincial, territorial, and municipal governments.
The discussions provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with building ferries domestically. Participants explored ways to strengthen Canada’s shipbuilding capacity and support the ferry sector’s long-term sustainability.
CFA strongly supports continued efforts to identify opportunities and remove barriers to building more ferries in Canada. As part of this commitment, CFA will:
Ferry operators across Canada play a vital role in delivering safe and reliable transportation services. These services are essential for the movement of people and goods in many regions. The Government of Canada has an important role to play in supporting the sector—particularly in addressing the cost gap between building vessels domestically versus overseas—and in enabling the shipbuilding industry to accelerate production.
“We thank Minister Freeland for initiating this important dialogue,” said Serge Buy, CEO of the Canadian Ferry Association. “Much work remains to be done, and CFA is committed to doing its part.”