
Federal Transportation Minister Freeland ‘dismayed’ about choice of Chinese shipyard
VICTORIA — Federal Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland says she is “dismayed” that BC Ferries has contracted a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels in the current geopolitical context that includes “unjustified” tariffs on Canada.
Freeland says in a letter sent to provincial Transport Minister Mike Farnworth that she expects BC Ferries to inform her about all measures that it plans to take to “mitigate any security risks,” including cybersecurity problems that might arise from the decision.
BC Ferries announced earlier this month that it has contracted China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards to build four new major vessels following a five-year-long procurement process that did not include a Canadian bid.
Freeland adds she is “surprised” that BC Ferries does not have a mandate for an “appropriate level” of Canadian content in the procurement given the value of the contract, although the dollar figure hasn’t been made public.