Transport Canada is rescinding the temporary flexibility it granted to BC Ferries to allow passengers to remain in their vehicle on enclosed vehicle decks.
Transport Canada granted this flexibility in the spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The flexibility will be rescinded on September 30 on the following routes.
Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay
Tsawwassen – Duke Point
Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay
Powell River – Comox
Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands
On the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale route, BC Ferries has approval from Transport Canada to safely allow passengers to remain on the main vehicle deck.
This, however, does not apply to any other routes.
The temporary flexibility was also not implemented to northern routes between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert and Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii, and so those routes remain unchanged.
The company will also reopen certain areas of the vessels, such as the Pacific Buffet area on the Spirit Class vessels, for seating only, as a way to provide passengers more space for physical distancing.
Buffet food service is not being reintroduced at this time.
