BC Ferries Turn Their Backs on Local Shipyards in a Blow to BC Workers
Let me tell you something that really hits home—not just for me, but for thousands of families across British Columbia. As someone who grew up in a shipbuilding household, I know what those jobs meant. My father was a marine electrician. Every day, he’d come home covered in grease, exhausted but proud. That job fed us, clothed us, and gave us purpose. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was honest work that helped build this province. So imagine the betrayal felt when we heard the BC NDP government just handed over the contract to build four new BC Ferries vessels—not to a local yard, not to a Canadian firm—but to a state-owned shipyard in China.
It’s more than disappointing. It’s infuriating.
This government promised us a “Made-in-B.C.” shipbuilding strategy back in 2021. They stood at podiums, formed advisory committees, and promised to revitalize a critical industry. It was supposed to bring skilled jobs back to communities, to rebuild industrial capacity, and give young people a reason to stay and work here. Now, all that talk feels like smoke and mirrors.
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Worse yet, B.C. shipyards didn’t even get a fair shot. According to the president of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union, Eric McNeely, the process was so rushed and restrictive that local yards couldn’t possibly compete. This wasn’t just a matter of losing a bid—it was being boxed out by design. That’s not financial prudence—it’s political cowardice disguised as cost-efficiency.
Think about what’s really at stake. Ferries aren’t just boats—they’re lifelines that connect our communities and support local economies. Handing their construction over to a foreign state-owned enterprise doesn’t just export jobs; it undermines our ability to sustain ourselves and control our infrastructure. And it funnels taxpayer money to a regime with a deeply troubling record on human rights and environmental practices. How does that align with this government’s repeated pledges of sustainability, equity, and reconciliation?
I remember when the federal government scrapped the Polar 8 icebreaker in the 1990s. My father was livid. That vessel was supposed to help Canada defend Arctic sovereignty—and now, decades later, our presence in the North is weaker than ever. The BC Ferries decision echoes that same short-sighted logic. We’re not just losing jobs; we’re losing identity, autonomy, and a chance to invest in our own people.
And let’s be clear—Premier Eby’s hands weren’t tied. He tied them himself and handed the rope to Beijing. This wasn’t just about shipbuilding. It was a moment to show real leadership, to stand up for BC workers and industries. Instead, the NDP passed the buck and sold out our future.
We’re at a crossroads. We either commit to building things here again—to fostering a self-reliant, skilled, and resilient economy—or we accept a future where we import everything and build nothing. Sadly, this government has shown us which path they’ve chosen. And it’s not the one they promised.
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