The federal government is directing more than C$10.6 million (US$7.5 million) to rural and remote transit projects across British Columbia, with the single largest element a multi-modal transit hub in the village of Pemberton that will tie local and regional services into the BC Transit network.

The Pemberton hub forms the core of the package. Planned works include construction of a transit station, bus shelters, sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting and bike racks, along with earthworks, roadworks and landscaping. The site design adds secure parking, shaded shelters, washrooms, bike storage and provisions for future electric vehicle charging.

The village positions the hub as a regional facility rather than a local stop. The design brief names Líl̓wat Nation, Southern Stl'atl'imx communities, Whistler and Squamish as catchment areas, with the stated aim of improving mobility, cutting isolation and widening access to healthcare, education and employment for residents of the corridor between the Sea to Sky communities.

Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, framed the spending as an equity measure. "Whether you live in a large city or a rural community, you should be able to count on reliable transportation to get where you need to go," Weiler said. "In Pemberton, this investment will help strengthen local and regional transit and better connect people to work, school, health care and essential services. The government of Canada is investing more than C$10.6 million across British Columbia to support a wide range of projects that reflect the unique transportation needs of rural and Indigenous communities."

Beyond Pemberton, Ottawa says the same funding envelope will pay for vehicle purchases and transit planning in 12 additional communities across the province, expanding on-demand and fixed-route service. Several recipients, including the Bridge River Indian Band and the Nisga'a Lisims Government, will also receive money for supporting infrastructure — maintenance garages, bus shelters and charging stations.

No delivery date for the Pemberton hub appears in the announcement, and the government has not published a per-project breakdown of how the C$10.6 million splits among the 13 communities. Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman confirmed the village will proceed to the next phase of the hub project.

"We are thrilled to receive this funding and to move forward with the next phase of the multi-modal transportation hub," Richman said. "This investment will enhance how people move throughout the Pemberton Valley by making transit more accessible, supporting active transportation and creating a welcoming space for residents and visitors. These improvements will strengthen connections throughout the region and contribute to a more accessible, sustainable and resilient transportation network for years to come."

Island rail corridor study funded

In a separate move, PacifiCan, the federal economic development agency for British Columbia, announced C$500,000 (US$356,000) through the Build Communities Strong Fund — Local Impact Stream for the Island Corridor Foundation. The money funds feasibility and technical studies on restoring passenger rail between Victoria West and Langford, a 20 km-scale section of the dormant Island Rail Corridor on southern Vancouver Island.

The Island Corridor Foundation is working through the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative, an Indigenous-led effort headed by the Lekwungen Nations — the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation (Kosapsum) — in partnership with local governments. The PacifiCan grant covers corridor planning, land use analysis and engagement with communities and partners. The stated outputs are identification of economic opportunities for the two nations and an evidence base for future decisions on Capital Regional District passenger rail.

Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson tied the grant to the wider federal fund. "The Build Communities Strong Fund is building reliable, resilient infrastructure at a speed and scale not seen in generations," Robertson said. "Through PacifiCan, we are investing in the places British Columbians rely on every day — generating lasting economic benefits, supporting local jobs and building vibrant, connected communities across the province."

The province has already committed money to the corridor question. British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Transit Mike Farnworth said the province has allocated C$18 million (US$12.8 million) for planning and engagement with Indigenous communities and regional districts, of which C$300,000 (US$213,490) went to this project.

"PacifiCan's investment today complements that contribution and helps us move forward to determine the best use for the corridor that meets the needs and priorities of this growing region," Farnworth said.

For now, both announcements fund studies, vehicles and civil works rather than service launches. The Island rail file in particular remains at feasibility stage, with the Songhees- and Esquimalt-led process set to determine whether the Victoria West–Langford section carries trains again or finds another use.