BC’s Conservatives say they’ll bring reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi back to major BC Ferries routes and terminals if they win the election, which would revive something passengers haven’t had on board in more than five years.
Party leader Lorne Doerkson announced the plan on October 11 as part of the Conservative platform. The idea is to have private companies handle the internet using modern satellite or cellular tech, with performance standards built in and no extra costs tacked onto fares or passed on to taxpayers.
If you ride the ferry between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland a lot, you already know onboard Wi-Fi has been a sore spot for ages. BC Ferries pulled its free passenger Wi-Fi in July 2021 on major routes like Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen, Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay to Langdale.
The service originally launched back in 2010, but it couldn’t keep up as more people logged on. According to BC Ferries, usage jumped from about 40 to 50 people per sailing to more than 900 on its biggest ships, which completely swamped the system. After years of complaints about slow speeds and dropped connections, the company finally killed it. Terminals kept their free Wi-Fi, and coverage later expanded to more locations.
Satellite internet like Starlink has changed the picture since then. In 2024, BC Ferries started testing SpaceX’s Starlink to boost connectivity for crews, though passengers weren’t part of that trial.
Then last month, Starlink hardware showed up on more BC Ferries vessels, which had people wondering if passenger Wi-Fi might finally make a comeback. BC Ferries confirmed in September that high-speed, low-latency satellite connectivity is now running across its fleet, but it’s only being used for operational and business communications.
Now the Conservatives want passenger internet folded into a bigger ferry overhaul. Their proposed BC Ferries Charter would set standards for reliability, on-time performance, capacity, affordability and customer service (we’ll believe it when we see it). The party also wants to cut admin duplication and push Ottawa for more federal funding for ferry operations.
“For families on Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Gulf Islands, the ferry is a lifeline, and the NDP has let it fall apart,” said Ryan Windsor, the Conservative candidate for Saanich North and the Islands (and outgoing Mayor of Central Saanich). “People rely on BC Ferries, and they deserve sailings that leave on time, have room for them and let them stay connected on board.”
The Conservatives haven’t said which routes would get connectivity first, what it would cost or when passengers could actually connect. They also haven’t picked a provider, though satellite services like Starlink would fit within what they’re proposing (since we’re already seeing a tonne of high powered dishes on the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen routes).
For now this is a campaign promise and not an actual BC Ferries rollout. If you really want to win the hearts and minds of the ferry riders, bring back the Sunshine Breakfast (highly debatable) and the Pacific Buffet on Victoria-Vancouver routes. While a ferry ride can take just 1.5 to 2 hours on major routes, crossing the Straight of Juan de Fuca can mean poor connectivity, especially if you’re trying to work.
Would you actually use free Wi-Fi on BC Ferries if it worked properly? The next BC election takes place on Friday, October 24, 2026.
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