We were deeply disappointed to learn that BC Ferries has selected China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards (CMI Weihai) to build four New Major Vessels (NMVs).
Canadian jobs should always come first, but in today’s economic climate, it is more important than ever that governments prioritize the spending of tax dollars locally and focus efforts on creating family-supporting jobs for British Columbians.
BC Ferries has failed in the national call to action to support and buy locally produced goods and services. There were zero local content requirements in the bid — effectively freezing B.C. shipyards and B.C. workers out of the bidding process.
While every other major Canadian industry is looking to reshore work, invest in local communities and deepen our autonomy, BC Ferries is moving in the opposite direction.
Our members have been building ships on the west coast for over 100 years. The enduring quality of our work is visible in your very own fleet.
The ships you are replacing have served the people of British Columbia for 50 years or more, well beyond their design life.
The Queen of New Westminster (built in 1963) and the Queen of Cowichan (built in 1976) were both constructed in Victoria shipyards. The Queen of Coquitlam and the Queen of Alberni were both built in 1976 in Vancouver shipyards.
A generation of BC Building Trades members earned their apprenticeships on these vessels. They stayed in their communities, invested in the local economy and spent the following decades building infrastructure across the province.
A new generation of British Columbians were ready and eager to take on this opportunity to build these ferries at home. With the right procurement structure, BC Ferries could have easily leveraged B.C.’s world-class shipyards. Just recently, Seaspan expanded facilities to support federal shipbuilding contracts.
Everyone recognizes the value a domestic shipbuilding industry plays in ensuring our national security.
But instead, BC Ferries has opted to send hundreds of millions of dollars overseas and is investing in a country known for poor safety standards and abysmal working conditions. A country that has also imposed tariffs on many of our local agricultural food products, increasing the costs of food for everyday Canadians.
This decision does not reflect our values as Canadians. It does not recognize the longstanding role B.C. workers have played in building our ship building industry. It does not enable skilled trades training and apprenticeship opportunities for our youth. It does not promote economic activity on our coast or help circulate wages within local communities. And it does nothing to bolster our national security.
For all these reasons, we urge you to reconsider this decision and develop a meaningful plan to build your ships in B.C.
This decision, in this moment in Canada’s history, will forever be a stain on BC Ferries. We stand ready to provide a local workforce to build components of these ferries in B.C. There is still time to do the right thing and reverse course.
Sincerely,
BRYNN BOURKE
Executive Director
The BC Building Trades represents over 45,000 unionized construction workers across B.C. Thousands of our members work in B.C. shipyards.