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- March 16 - Alaska threatens Victoria cruise industry (again)
March 16 - Alaska threatens Victoria cruise industry (again)
8 under-the-radar restaurants. Update on new terminal. Driest winter in 20+ years
Capital Daily Team
March 16, 2025
Good morning !
Today's top stories both look at water travel between here and the US: First, we cover the latest US threats toward Victoria's status as a major cruise stop. Then we look at the latest update on the construction of a new international terminal for the Washington ferries.
Both stories are fully available to all readers today. But after our membership campaign wraps up, the second main story in Sunday newsletters will be for Insiders only—like Sunday's third (and sometimes fourth) main stories are currently. Today's third story features some of the region's most underrated restaurants.
Our sincere thanks to all of you who have signed up to support us as part of the campaign. Your contributions help us continue to put together daily news for all readers.
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— Cam
Today’s approx. read time: 4 / 6 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
Today: 🌦⛈ 9 / 5
Monday: 🌦 11 / 1
Tuesday: 🌤 9 / 3
NEWS
Alaska senator threatens to target Victoria cruise industry in trade war
The Norwegian Sun docked at Ogden Point in 2023. Photo: Mark Brennae / Capital Daily
The Passenger Vessel Services Act requires American cruise ships en route to Alaska to stop at Ogden Point and in Vancouver.Victoria’s position between Seattle and Alaska has made it Canada’s busiest cruise ship port of call.
But Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan wants to change all that. He warns that the province would lose “billions of dollars” in tourism revenue.
Sullivan was reacting to the latest tariff salvo fired between Canada and the US, one that would position BC to charge US truckers a toll to use a BC highway to Alaska. Sullivan said in a radio appearance last week that “they're playing a dangerous game here” with the charges and that “two can play at that game.”
Though it is now being targeted as part of the current wave of US protectionism, the long-standing rule has its own protectionist intent: preventing non-US companies from taking over ocean travel between US cities. The Jones Act places similar restrictions on shipping.
Go talk to Trump, Eby replies
The BC premier responded on Friday, saying that he understands Alaskan are “anxious” about the proposed charges and will “respond in kind” but that “we need Alaskans to send a message to Donald Trump about how intertwined we are.”
Eby said he wants to convey to Americans and their president that although Canadians will “arm ourselves,” trade wars “only hurt people. They don’t benefit anybody.”
Similar standoff arose during pandemic shutdowns
BC wasn't allowing cruises to dock in 2021, and so the requirement was temporarily lifted by the US to allow for an Alaskan cruise season.
The state's other Republican Senator, Lisa Murkowski, sought at that time to make the change permanent (rather than automatically ending once Canada reopened to cruises) for ships carrying 1,000+ people. She argued that the rule put southeast Alaska's economy at the mercy of Canada.
At the time Ian Robertson, the then-CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, said that such a change would be “devastating” to Victoria. Murkowski's bill ultimately died in Congress.
This time around, Victoria and Vancouver's port authorities say they are confident that their cities will remain an appealing and established destination regardless of whether they are required stops.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Possible thunder & high winds today.
Sun & cloud to start the week, then mostly rain.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
Victoria is one step closer to a revitalized Belleville Terminal
Photo: BC Gov
The first phase of the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project is complete, after a year of modifying the Steamship Wharf and building a temporary terminal to house FRS Clipper and US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP).
Phase two is slated to begin later this spring, with the demolition of the existing Clipper terminal planned. Construction of a new pre-clearance terminal building, with modernized border security, will also take place in the second phase.
Jonathan Wilkinson, federal minister of energy, called the project a “key milestone for Greater Victoria” that will strengthen tourism and travel.
The $300M+ project—expected to be complete in time for the 2028 tourist season—is intended to bring the terminal into compliance with the Canada-US Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement. With the new pre-clearance process, travellers can complete the US customs process in Victoria, freeing up their time once stateside.
The updated terminal will be an all-electric facility, with low-emissions output, and entirely accessible to those with disabilities. The terminal’s upgrade is expected to bring in $250M+ to Victoria in visitor spending, and estimates of 3,200 regional jobs created each year are up from the previous estimate of 2,000 jobs per year.
“This has been discussed for decades and has broad support locally and across the business and tourism communities,” Mike Farnworth, BC’s transit minister, said in a release.
