LOCATION: Eastern Canada
ISSUE/SOURCE: Eastern Canada Ferry Services
DATE: July 2025
SUGGESTED RESPONSES
- Budget 2019 announced that the Government of Canada would procure two new ferries to replace the MV Madeleine and MV Holiday Island. In summer 2019, the Government of Canada announced that Chantier Davie would be responsible for designing and constructing the new ferries.
- Pre-construction project activities are progressing, and preliminary design for the replacement vessel for the former MV Holiday Island has been completed. The shipyard has also selected its preferred suppliers and major machinery for the vessel.
- The next phase of the project is Basic Design – a more detailed and comprehensive design phase that would inform the eventual construction of the vessel.
- The precise delivery timelines will only be known once construction contracts are in place.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- Through the Ferry Services Contribution Program, Transport Canada provides funding to private operators to support three interprovincial ferry services in Eastern Canada, including service between: (i) Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island and Caribou, Nova Scotia; (ii) Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec and Souris, Prince Edward Island; and (iii) Saint John, New Brunswick and Digby, Nova Scotia. The vessels and terminals used to provide the services are owned by Transport Canada and are leased to the operators for a nominal amount.
- In Budget 2019, the Government of Canada announced that it would procure two ferries to replace the MV Madeleine, which operated between Quebec and Prince Edward Island, and the MV Holiday Island, which was used to provide service between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Following a successful Advance Contract Award Notice process, the Government of Canada announced in June 2019, that it would enter into negotiations with Chantier Davie Canada Inc. for the construction of the new ferries.
- The ferries project has been structured in three phases:
- Phase 1: Completion of the Preliminary Designs and Class C cost estimates for the new vessels;
- Phase 2: Basic Design and Long Lead Items Contract(s); and
- Phase 3: Build Contract.