As the Alaska State Legislature grapples with their transportation budget & decides whether or not to abandon the Bellingham WA - Alaska ferry route as they restructure their system, it might be asked whether this would provide a revenue generating opportunity for both British Columbia and for the BC Ferry Corporation ?

With Vancouvers' Tsawwassen Terminal only some 20-25 minutes north of Bellingham, a BC ferry offering service between Vancouver & Prince Rupert would enable travellers to still enjoy the beauty of the coast; to enjoy the trip in Canadian dollars, and to avoid the long drive alternative.
The 5 hr Alaska ferry from Prince Rupert to Ketchican,  would enable visitors seeking access to the State to still enjoy a ferry route that should include the islands of Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka & Juneau before reaching Haines - where the Alcan Hwy provides access to the rest of Alaska

The downside of this thought is the knowledge that to enter Canada, any US citizen travelling to Alaska via Vancouver would need to carry a valid passport and must not be a convicted felon. ( DUI's are considered a felony in Canada)
Too, transporting weapons could be an issue as neither handguns nor automatic / semi-automatic weapons are allowed into Canada.

Currently it is estimated that some 30,000 passengers a year use the Alaska ferry system to travel between Washington & Alaska: a number that brings with it serious dollars for any community.