Tuesday June 17, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
In light of a BC Ferries shipbuilding contract being awarded to Chinese stated-owned company that openly states its goal to achieve more dominance in the shupbuilding sector, Premier David Eby is disappointed that no Canadian shipbuilding companies felt qualified or available to bid on the contract.
Eby sees now an opportunity to work with the federal government to turn that ship around, i.e. to work on improving shipbuilding capacity in BC and Canada.
BC Ferries advised Transportation and Transit Minister Mike Farnworth of the decision to award their contract for four New Major Vessels (NMV’s) to China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards (CMI Weihai) 30 days before the public announcement on June 10, according to Premier Eby today.
Public discourse:
There has been public concern about the awarding of a major contract to a company in a country that operates a brutal dictatorship. There is a sense that British Columbians expected better of the BC Ferries corporation to at least recognize the political implications of ‘buy local’.
The fact that BC Ferries is a private corporation seems to make it very difficult to bring political pressure to bear on the decision-making of the transportation provider.
Looking to next four ships:
Eby says he is not prepared to impose a delay (of years) or see the province bear the cost (of at least one billion dollars) to see the recently-announced fixed-price contract to CMI revisited with other options.
His top priority is to see that the services provided by BC Ferries can be improved for the benefit of ferry-dependent families, business, tourists and other travellers.
“BC Ferries went through an extensive independent procurement process. They arrived at a decision to award this,” said Eby with a perfunctory approach. His political approach is to see the political opportunity that he plans to pursue with the new federal Liberal government.
“Not a single Canadian shipyard bid on the contract,” said Eby today. Though he added that he’s glad that Canadian shipbuilding companies (like Seaspan in North Vancouver) is busy with federal contracts.
“Canadians need an opportunity to build this important infrastructure,” said Eby today. He points to “ships 5, 6, 7 and 8” as the next opportunity for building the next BC Ferries vessels at home in BC or at least in Canada.
“To re-open and revisit a five-year procurement process and reward contracts, would be well in excess of a billion dollars.” said Eby today.
“It’s definitely not my preferred outcome,” said Eby, who added that the government has expressed their displeasure to BC Ferries.
Back after trade mission:
This BC Ferries contract issue blew up in the provincial and Canadian news realm while Eby was away in Asia on a trade mission. Today’s presser held outside the BC Legislative Building was his first media availability since returning from that trip.
===== RELATED:
- East-west difference in federal funding to coastal ferries (June 17, 2025)
- Vancouver Island MP asks about BC Ferries contract in House of Commons (June 11, 2025)
- BC Ferries four new major vessels to be constructed in China (June 10, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: BC FERRIES | 43rd BC PARLIAMENT