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CFA brings concerns of operators to Commons Finance Committee

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:

  • Changes to the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program to accommodate unique situations such as for BC Ferries and small operators that suffered unforeseen circumstances in 2019 (i.e. the Ottawa River Flooding);
  • Creation of a recovery program for vital transportation services; and
  • A plan to address the financial impact of federal regulations.

CFA’s presentation to the committee can be found here.

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