Government of Canada invests $7.3 million in new infrastructure at P.E.I.'s Wood Islands ferry terminal to support safe ferry service

WOOD ISLANDS, PE, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ -- Reliable ferry service connects Prince Edward Island to markets and communities, strengthening the regional economy and supporting good-paying jobs. The Government of Canada is investing in infrastructure in Wood Islands that supports the continued safe and reliable operation of this essential transportation link while responding to environmental concerns raised by the local community.

Today, the Honourable Kody Blois, Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, announced that Transport Canada has awarded a $7.3-million contract to Sani-Sable, a Quebec-based company, to construct a land-based holding basin to manage dredged sediment on federal property west of the Wood Islands ferry terminal.

Regular maintenance dredging is needed to maintain safe access for ferry vessels. The holding basin will provide a practical, cost-effective way to hold and filter sediment from routine maintenance dredging. The project is part of a long-term dredging strategy that will help address the community's concerns about the impact of disposal at sea on local livelihoods.

Through the Ferry Services Contribution Program, Transport Canada continues to support ferry services that connect people and sustain local economies, while ensuring new ferry infrastructure keeps pace with the needs of the coastal communities it serves. The fare reductions introduced in August 2025 have helped to lower costs and make the services more affordable, improve mobility between provinces, and support longer term economic growth.   

Quotes

"The ferry services in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec facilitate travel, trade, and opportunities. These transportation links keep connections and communities strong. Today's announcement reflects the Government of Canada's commitment to serving the people who rely on the Wood Islands ferry service and the fishers who depend on the marine environment for their livelihoods."

The Honourable Steven MacKinnon
Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

"This project demonstrates that the Government of Canada has listened and is taking action. The holding basin is a practical solution that reflects feedback from the local fishing community while supporting an essential ferry connection for the community."

The Honourable Kody Blois
Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister 

Quick facts (optional)

• The Wood Islands ferry terminal supports the seasonal ferry service between Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, and Caribou, Nova Scotia.
• A request for proposals for a new land-based holding basin in Wood Islands was launched on August 19, 2026. After a competitive process and thorough evaluation, the proponent was awarded the contract in October 2026.
• The holding basin will be approximately 150 m x 280 m and have a capacity of close to 125,000 cubic metres. It will be built on federal property west of the ferry terminal.
• Construction is expected to begin in November 2026 and be completed before service resumes in the spring of 2027. Construction is mainly planned for the ferry service off-season. It is not expected to interrupt ferry service.
• Through the Ferry Services Contribution Program, Transport Canada supports three interprovincial ferry services that are essential to regional mobility and the regional economy across Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec.
• The three federally supported Eastern Canada ferry services contribute approximately $265 million to the Canadian economy every year.
• Between 2022-23 and 2025-26, Eastern Canada Ferry Services carried an annual average of approximately 574,000 passengers, 216,000 passenger vehicles, and 19,500 commercial vehicles.

Associated links

• Ferry Services Contribution Program

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SOURCE Transport Canada - Ottawa

Contacts: Marie-Justine Torres, Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of the Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, 613-327-5918, [email protected]; Media relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055, [email protected]