For immediate release
Ottawa, July 20, 2020 – The Canadian Ferry Association (CFA) is warning ferry-dependent communities that the lack of federal government support received by operators will impact the economic and social recovery post COVID-19.
While the sector has played a key role to transport first responders, essential travelers and goods to ferry-dependent communities during the pandemic, it has received no support from recent federal relief measures. The federally regulated sector was encouraged to continue its operations during the crisis even though it faced steep decreases in revenues, mounting losses and now added costs to adapt to the new reality.
“The Canadian Ferry Association is calling on the government to show more flexibility and support a crucial part of Canada’s transportation infrastructure,” said Serge Buy, CFA’s CEO.
Organizations such as BC Ferries, Owen Sound Transportation Company and the Société des traversiers du Québec are not eligible for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. While a small fully private part of the sector is eligible for funding, some are facing denials. One such example is the Ottawa River ferries that cannot qualify due to their inability to use 2019 as a comparative year for revenues as a result of the floods.
Other measures, including the recently announced $19 billion in transfers to the provinces, may support some ferries that operate as part of municipal transit infrastructure, but the vast majority of the sector is, once again, ignored.
“This lack of support for the ferry sector is dividing communities in Canada into those that take urban transit in large municipalities and those that rely on other modes of transportation such as ferries,” said Mr. Buy.
CFA will continue discussions with the federal government to help ensure that the sector’s contribution to the country-wide efforts during the pandemic and the recovery are properly recognized and financially supported.
The sector estimates its losses at over $450 million. The impact on ferry-dependent communities could include reduction in services, fleet renewal delays, cancellation of shore-based infrastructure projects and delays in implementation of green energy projects.
See the official Press Release here.
For further information, contact CFA’s CEO, Serge Buy at sbuy@canadianferry.ca or 613-720-1777.
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ABOUT CFA
In 2019, ferries in Canada transported about 55 million passengers, 22 million vehicles and billions of dollars of goods in communities throughout the country, from urban centres to remote regions.
The Canadian Ferry Association represents the sector and its members include eight provincial governments, large urban municipalities, First nations and Crown corporations and private corporations (such as BC Ferries).
On June 1st, the Canadian Ferry Association has sent a letter to Ministers Morneau and Garneau requesting support for the ferry sector.
Read the letter here.
Today, the Canadian Ferry Association’s CEO, Serge Buy, testified before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance to discuss the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ferry service has been impacted in a number of ways due to COVID-19, and operators taking steps to ensure that passengers and crews are safe. This includes additional measures to promote physical distancing (including running at half-capacity), wearing masks where needed, and more.
These measures are taking an economic toll on ferry operators across the country, which could negatively impact the communities they serve.
During the presentation, CFA raised three main recommendations:
CFA’s presentation to the committee can be found here.
April 17, 2020
The Canadian government introduced measures for non-medical masks or face coverings in the Canadian transportation system.
It will mean that all air passengers will be required to wear non-medical masks or face-coverings to cover their mouth and nose during travel.
For ferries, operators will continue to have the choice:
Operators are encouraged to provide public messaging to travellers about the need to have non-medical masks or face coverings before and during their journey – if they can’t maintain physical distancing. Our Association will put some social media messaging on this that can be used by operators.
To be clear: this measure does not include employees. Operators are free to decide, on their own, if staff can or need to wear non-medical masks or face coverings.
Additionally, please find below various links from Transport Canada on the new guidelines related to non-medical masks and face coverings for passengers on ferries.
Please note that we will be tweeting, in both official languages, various social media messages related to this and other announcements as they are released. You can find us on Twitter @canadianferry
1. News Release (multimodal)
2. Backgrounder (multimodal)
4. Poster – “Travel by Ferry or Water Taxi”
5. Poster – “Face Coverings on Passenger Vessel and Ferries”
If you have any questions regarding the new regulations, please contact CFA CEO Serge Buy at sbuy@canadianferry.ca
New Measures for Ferry Sector Aimed to Protect Communities, Passengers and Crews
For Immediate Release
Ottawa, April 5, 2020 – The Canadian Ferry Association (CFA) is pleased with the new measures for the ferry sector as announced by the federal government today. The measures are aimed to protect the health and safety of communities, passengers and crews by preventing people with COVID-19 symptoms from potentially spreading the virus while using the ferry system.
“The offices of Minister Garneau and Deputy Prime Minister Freeland have taken this issue seriously and we are pleased with the actions they have taken on behalf of ferry passengers, crews and the communities we serve,” said CFA’s CEO Serge Buy. “They demonstrated a willingness to work with, and understand, the sector and we thank them for that.”
CFA has been concerned that transportation measures previously announced focused solely on the airline and train sectors and excluded ferries, which also play a critical role in transporting Canadians and goods. This has now been resolved thanks to the intervention of both Ministers.
The measures, outlined in the government’s news release, recognize the uniqueness of the sector and the diversity of the regions it serves. The measures provide flexibility while not compromising health and safety.
For further information, contact CFA’s CEO, Serge Buy at sbuy@canadianferry.ca or 613-720-1777.
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ABOUT CFA
In 2019, ferries in Canada transported about 55 million passengers, 22 million vehicles and billions of dollars of goods in communities throughout the country, from urban centres to remote regions.
The Canadian Ferry Association represents the sector and its members include eight provincial governments, large urban municipalities, First nations and Crown corporations and private corporations (such as BC Ferries).
COVID-19: 75% Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy for Canadian Businesses
In order to help Canadian businesses, the federal government has announced its plans to offer a 75% wage subsidy for qualifying businesses. This applies to businesses of all sizes and across all sectors.
In order to qualify, a business must be able to prove a loss of at least 15% of revenue in March 2020 and 30% for the following months. This measure will be backdated to March 15, as way to incentivize employers to re-hire employees that may have been laid off.
It would apply to 75% of the first $58,700 normally earned by employees – representing a benefit of up to $847 per employee. This program would be in place for a 12-week period from March 15 to June 6.
Eligibility criteria:
A funding portal – through CRA – will be available shortly.
Organizations that do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy can qualify for the previously announced wage subsidy for 10%, up to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Click here for more information.
We know that our operator and supplier members may be facing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CFA is acting as a resource centre on all COVID-19 issues, and is circulating information to all ferry operators, regardless of their membership in our association. CFA is acting as a conduit of information from the sector to the federal government.
Questions? Please contact CFA’s CEO Serge Buy (sbuy@canadianferry.ca).
For the latest update on COVID-19, please see the following links:
Over the last few weeks, the federal government has begun to release its COVID-19 Economic Response Plan that provides support to businesses and Canadians.
Information about these measures are below.
Support for Businesses:
A new Business Credit Availability Program will allow the BDC and EDC to provide $10 billion of additional support targeting small businesses. This support will allow private sector lenders to coordinate on credit solutions for individual businesses. This program has been expanded to mid-sized companies with larger financing needs. Support for mid-market businesses will include loans of up to $60 million per company, and guarantees of up to $80 million.
This program includes the Canada Emergency Business Account which will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and non-profits. To qualify, these organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $20,000 to $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019.
Click here for more information.
This will provide bridge-financing to Canada’s largest employers, whose needs are not being met through conventional financing in order to keep their operations going. This support will not be used to resolve insolvencies or restructure firms, nor will it provide financing to companies that otherwise have the capacity to manage through the crisis. Strict parameters have been put in place for businesses who wish to access this program. More details are available here.
This 3-month subsidy is equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period – to a maximum of $1,375 per employee.
Click here for more information.
In order to help Canadian businesses, the federal government has announced its plans to offer a 75% wage subsidy for qualifying businesses. This applies to businesses of all sizes and across all sectors.
In order to qualify, a business must be able to prove a loss of at least 15% of revenue in March 2020 and 30% for the following months. This measure will be backdated to March 15, as way to incentivize employers to re-hire employees that may have been laid off.
It would apply to 75% of the first $58,700 normally earned by employees – representing a benefit of up to $847 per employee. This program would be in place for a 12-week period from March 15 to June 6.
The Government of Canada has announced that the CEWS will be extended by 12 additional weeks to August 29, 2020.
Eligibility criteria:
The Application portal can be found here.
Organizations that do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy can qualify for the previously announced wage subsidy for 10%, up to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Click here for more information.
This program will provide loans (including forgivable loans) to commercial property owners who in turn lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for the months of April (retroactive), May and June. Further details about this program will follow shortly.
A new Regional Relief and Recovery Fund earmarks nearly $962 million to help businesses and organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, tourism and more. This fund will be administered through the regional development agencies across the country.
To find your regional development agency, and apply, click here.
For tourism operators and small businesses, flexible arrangements may be made with regional development agency (RDA) in your region – support may be available and is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Click here to find the RDA in your region.
CRA will:
Changes will be made to support exporters deemed to be in the national interest – allowing the government to provide additional support to the companies through loans, guarantee or insurance policies.
Support for Canadians
To support Canadian workers and parents, the government will:
Mask Guidelines from Transport Canada
On April 17, the Canadian government introduced measures for non-medical masks or face coverings in the Canadian transportation system.
It will mean that all air passengers will be required to wear non-medical masks or face-coverings to cover their mouth and nose during travel.
For ferries, operators will continue to have the choice:
Operators are encouraged to provide public messaging to travellers about the need to have non-medical masks or face coverings before and during their journey – if they can’t maintain physical distancing. Our Association will put some social media messaging on this that can be used by operators.
To be clear: this measure does not include employees. Operators are free to decide, on their own, if staff can or need to wear non-medical masks or face coverings.
Additionally, please find below various links from Transport Canada on the new guidelines related to non-medical masks and face coverings for passengers on ferries.
Please note that we will be tweeting, in both official languages, various social media messages related to this and other announcements as they are released. You can find us on Twitter @canadianferry
1. News Release (multimodal)
2. Backgrounder (multimodal)
4. Poster – “Travel by Ferry or Water Taxi”
5. Poster – “Face Coverings on Passenger Vessel and Ferries”
If you have any questions regarding the new regulations, please contact CFA CEO Serge Buy at sbuy@canadianferry.ca
Interim Order No 3: Respecting Passenger Vessel Restrictions Due to COVID-19
Transport Canada has issued a new Interim Order, Interim Order No.3 Respecting Passenger Vessel Restrictions Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which replaces the Interim Order No. 2 that was released on April 20th.
Interim Order No.3 puts in place measures announced by Minister Garneau on May 29th, prohibiting passenger vessels that are certified to carry more than 100 persons (including passengers and crew) AND are equipped with overnight capacity for passengers (bunks, cabins, etc.) from operating in Canadian waters until October 31, 2020.
Vessels certified to carry more than 12 passengers will be prohibited from entering Canadian Arctic waters (waters north of the 60th parallel, including the territorial sea in the vicinity of Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and the Labrador coast), also until October 31, 2020.
Essential passenger vessels and ferry vessels will continue to operate with mitigation measures in place to reduce to the spread of COVID-19. All other vessels will be permitted to operate, subject to restrictions from their provincial, territorial, or local health authority.
Ship Safety Bulletin: Mobility of Asymptomatic Workers in the Marine Sector During COVID-19 - SSB No.: 18/2020
This bulletin outlines measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on board essential passenger vessels and ferries. These practices must be implemented by essential passenger vessels and ferries that continue to operate, under restrictions, during the pandemic.
This bulletin replaces Ship Safety Bulletin No. 09/2020
Due to the ongoing situation with COVID19, Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security (TCMSS) will grant a general extension for the validity of certain marine personnel certificates. Due to the imposed community based mitigation methods, including the closure of schools and focus on social distancing, TCMSS has decided that due to the difficulty this will cause seafarers in completing their courses that the best course of action is to grant this temporary extension.
Please see the information provided by TCMSS for further details on this temporary measure.
The Canadian Ferry Association (CFA) announces that it will act as a resource centre on all COVID-19 issues. CFA will circulate information all operators regardless of whether they are members of the association.
“It is essential for information to flow through to all ferry operators as quickly as it becomes available,” said CFA CEO Serge Buy.
CFA is also the source of information and questions from the sector to the federal government. Departments such as Transport Canada, Finance Canada and the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the COVID-19 response are CFA’s main interlocutors.
Already, CFA has circulated questions from its operators and is liaising with Transport Canada to find responses.
Should operators or interested parties have questions, they should contact CFA’s CEO. Serge Buy is reachable by email at sbuy@canadianferry.ca
In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian health authorities have urged Canadians to engage in social-distancing in public areas to prevent further transmission of the virus across communities.
In response, the federal government has announced that Minister Garneau has approved a temporary measure that will enable ferry passengers to stay inside their vehicle, onboard the car decks, provided the operator can demonstrate that various safety measures have been put in place.
The decision to utilize this protocol ultimately rests with the Master of the Ferry.
Operators who chose to implement this protocol will have to confirm, in writing, to the Regional Director of Marine Safety and Security what measures are being taken to handle the additional pressure for emergency evacuation in case of an incident. They may advise and comment on the information you provide.
Acceptable measures could include (but not be limited to):
If you have any questions, please contact CFA CEO Serge Buy at sbuy@canadianferry.ca