Letter to PM re Support for BC Ferries ICEP

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Preserving and protecting over 450 islands and surrounding waters in the Salish Sea 
Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
 
 
200-1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone  (250) 405-5151    Fax  (250) 405-5155 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660.2421.  Elsewhere in BC 
1.800.663.7867 
Email  information@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
 
 
January 19, 2021         File No.: 0400-20 
 
Via email: pm@pm.gc.ca 
 
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P. 
Prime Minister of Canada 
80 Wellington Street 
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 
 
Dear Prime Minister: 
 
Re:  Support for the BC Ferries Island Class Electrification Project 
 
On behalf of Islands Trust Council, I am writing to communicate our support for the BC Ferries Island Class 
Electrification Project. We urge the federal government to provide financial funding for this important 
project. This project would enable the conversion of Island-class ferries from hybrid-powered to all-electric 
vessels by allowing them to seamlessly recharge their batteries during the embarkation and disembarkation 
of passengers. We believe that the project would support the goals of the Islands Trust Climate Emergency 
Declaration.    
 
Electrifying the Island Class and its associated terminals would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On 
March 13, 2019, the Islands Trust Council declared a climate emergency and identified ways in which we will 
help address and mitigate impacts of climate change. Island communities have repeated voiced concerns 
about the greenhouse gas emissions associated with BC Ferries’ vessels and reducing vessel emissions is a 
significant priority to promote the long-term wellbeing of communities and ecosystems. In addition, as the 
Island Class ferries serve a number of island communities, we see this project as an opportunity to 
strengthen community resilience and adaptability.   
 
We are thankful that the federal government has taken a leadership position with regard to climate change. 
In our view this is not something that can wait. Proactive, ambitious actions are needed now with leadership 
from the House of Commons. This project represents an essential step in the right direction to the transition 
towards a low-carbon future.  
 
In March 2019, Islands Trust Council passed a Reconciliation Declaration to commit to the guiding principles 
of the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRC) Calls to Action.  The Islands Trust is located within the 
treaty and territories of many First Nation governments and upgrades to the associated BC Ferries terminals 
could impact First Nations.  We feel that for any electrification project to be successful it must include 
meaningful and respectful engagement between First Nations, all levels of government, Islands Trust, and BC 
Ferries, and we would advocate for this meaningful and respectful engagement to be 

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