Chapter 4 · 4.2 Connecting communities
Supporting ferry and passenger rail services
$1.34B net impact on the budgetary balance over five years, 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The cost line
| Line | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | 2030-31 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supporting ferry and passenger rail services | 9 | 411 | 390 | 414 | 124 | 1,348 |
| Less: Funds previously provisioned in the fiscal framework | −4 | −4 | — | — | — | −7 |
| Net fiscal impact | 5 | 407 | 390 | 414 | 124 | 1,341 |
… no change to existing funding or no fiscal implication · – a further extension will be considered later · 0* less than $0.5 million. Positive numbers cost the budget (spending or forgone revenue); negative numbers improve it.
What the budget says
“Building on this support, Budget 2026 proposes to: Renew the Ferry Services Contribution Program until 2032.”
Budget 2026, p. 235 (PDF p. 251)
“Budget 2026 proposes to provide $1.3 billion over eight years on a cash basis, starting in 2026-27, to Transport Canada to support this renewal.”
Budget 2026, p. 235 (PDF p. 251)
“Budget 2026 proposes to provide $35.1 million in 2027-28 to Transport Canada to support this renewal.”
Budget 2026, p. 235 (PDF p. 251)
“Budget 2026 proposes to provide $1.2 billion over three years on a cash basis, starting in 2027-28, to VIA Rail Canada to support these activities.”
Budget 2026, p. 235 (PDF p. 251)
Amounts named in the text
Stated amounts can cover different periods, cash or accrual bases, previously announced money and loans. They are not additive with the cost line above.
- $1.3 billion over eight years
- $35.1 million
- $1.2 billion over three years
- $6.6 billion
Also in this section
- Advancing the LaSalle Causeway Bridge Replacement Projectno cost lineNo cost lineInfrastructure & transportPublic work