B.C. Greens release transportation plans, includes free transit for youth, seniors<\/p>\n
Published 4:24 pm Friday, October 9, 2026<\/p>\n
B.C. Green incumbent Jeremy Valeriote laid out the party\u2019s plans for transportation in the province during a stop in Whistler Friday (Oct. 9).<\/p>\n
The party has plans to offer free transit passes for youth under 25 and seniors aged 65 and older, as well as boost bus service, increase funding for ferries and expand its infrastructure and develop passenger rail.<\/p>\n
Valeriote, the incumbent for West Vancouver-Sea-to-Sky, said bringing transit to his riding is a \u201cno brainer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cConstituents have been asking for years and it costs very little to get operational, but the provincial government has thrown up roadblock after roadblock,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven within regional governance that is aligned and focused on this issue, working with the BC NDP has made this impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
B.C. Greens Leader Emily Lowan said that by providing stable funding \u201cto deliver fast, frequent service,\u201d her party would remove one of the biggest barriers communities face in delivering transit people can rely on.<\/p>\n
Ferries and rail<\/p>\n
Lowan said B.C. has the capacity to run more ferries, as well as rail corridors.<\/p>\n
\u201cYet due to consistent delays and unsustainable funding, these essential services have been neglected,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Lowan said the B.C Greens would make sure communities, workers and families from across B.C. can stay connected, \u201cthrough supporting a future for our rail corridors, building and maintaining ferries locally, and supporting the union workers we\u2019ll need to connect B.C.\u201d<\/p>\n
The B.C. Greens would work with the federal government to increase funding and achieve parity with Atlantic Canada for ferry service. Part of that work would include reviewing the governance model and long-term funding arrangements.<\/p>\n
The party would also expand infrastructure at terminals and docks, including planning for electric ferries.<\/p>\n
B.C. Greens also pledged to build and maintain ships locally \u201cto boost the local economy and provide good union work.\u201d<\/p>\n
In May 2025, BC Ferries selected a Chinese state-owned shipyard as the winning bidder to build four new massive hybrid-electric ferries. The B.C. government says no local shipyards bid on the contract.<\/p>\n