Ottawa should cancel its $1-billion loan for BC Ferries’ to buy new ships from the Chinese government, and help the B.C. government pull out of the deal to redirect the work within Canada or to an allied country, says Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Poilievre made the comments while visiting Vancouver on Wednesday, saying it’s unacceptable for taxpayer money from both the provincial and federal governments to go to China at a time when it is attacking the country with tariffs and hostile to Canada internationally.
“The federal government under the Liberals has financed this deal that would see our money, our Canadian money, pay for Chinese-made ferries, without properly exploring how it could be done in Canada, or at least in partnership with other democratic countries that could favour Canada's economy,” Poilievre said in an interview.
“It's a terrible example, especially in these times when we're supposed to be bringing home production and paycheques to Canadians, to send billions abroad to a foreign dictatorship that uses slave labour, or at least very highly suppressed wages, to pay the price of producing the ships.
“We could do more of that work here in Canada, and that's what the federal government should favour.”
The federal government should help B.C. find such a plan, so that the province can then back out of the China deal, he added.
The comments come as the Conservatives push hard against the BC Ferries contract in Ottawa, with the intent to force testimony from BC Ferries’ CEO, as well as federal cabinet ministers.
Poilievre said he’d like answers on how the Canada Infrastructure Bank, a Crown corporation that is supposed to spur investment in Canadian jobs and industries, loaned $1 billion to BC Ferries in financing for its contract to build four new vessels at a state-owned Chinese shipyard.
No Canadian shipyards bid on the BC Ferries contract. said it was currently at capacity with navy and Coast Guard ships, but also that it could not have competed with the low cost of a country like China and that the BC Ferries contract failed to properly value Canadian work.
Premier David Eby , saying that while he’s disappointed China is involved, most British Columbians just want the ships done quickly and cheaply to reduce lineups at terminals.
“Obviously Seaspan and other Canadian-based shipbuilders can't compete with Chinese government state-owned enterprises that use suppressed wages and poor working conditions,” said Poilievre.
“So we need to work on another plan that would either build them here, or work with other democratic partners who agree to give some of the economic benefits back to British Columbians and Canadians.”
Federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, who oversees the Canada Infrastructure Bank, has expressed concern about the deal, but has not commented publicly since saying he requested a briefing on the matter. The bank’s CEO is expected to be called to testify in front of MPs as well.
Federal Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland for the deal, saying it is concerning to see public funds go towards China when that country is hitting Canada with harmful tariffs.
The federal funds flowing towards China come at a time when the federal government is increasingly banning Chinese companies from doing business in Canada on national security grounds. Last month, it ordered surveillance company Hikvision to cease all operations in Canada after a national security review. It also blocked Chinese tech giant Huawei’s equipment from being used in Canada’s 5G wireless network.
Experts have said the Chinese government uses civilian ferry contracts like the one from BC Ferries to help grow a shipbuilding sector whose real purpose will be to build military troop transports to invade Taiwan.
BC Ferries CEO Nicholas Jimenez has said the geopolitical concerns of the deal are a problem for politicians to sort out, and that he simply sought the best overall value and package for ferry users.
While in Vancouver, Poilievre also weighed in on the issue of a potential new oil pipeline from Alberta to B.C.’s coast. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she’s close to finding private sector proponents, but and at times opposition to the idea.
Poilievre said Eby should not be allowed to block the deal.
“I like the premier, he’s a nice fellow, but I disagree with him and we have to go ahead anyway,” said Poilievre. “We can't have any one politician override the national interest. We've got to get a pipeline built. And I think most British Columbians agree.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney an oil pipeline from Alberta to B.C.’s northwest coast will be part of the list of projects in the national interest he intends to fast-track, but also that he does not want to force anything on a province against its will.
Poilievre said the pipeline should be privately financed, with no taxpayer dollars, and built in partnership with First Nations along the route.
“Let's keep in mind the goal of all this should be to go around the Americans,” he said. “Let's stop giving away our oil at a discount to the U.S. and let’s start selling it to the world at the highest price, to our workers' benefit.”
Rob Shaw has spent more than 17 years covering B.C. politics, now reporting for CHEK News and writing for The Orca/BIV. He is the co-author of the national bestselling book A Matter of Confidence, host of the weekly podcast Political Capital, and a regular guest on CBC Radio.
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