The BC Ferries Contract Controversy: A Missed Chance to Invest in Our Own

When BC Ferries announced that four new major vessels would be built by the Chinese state-owned CMI Weihai Shipyards, the reaction was swift and sharp. Ferry workers, business advocates, and politicians from across the spectrum lined up to question why a Crown-related corporation—whose sole shareholder is the Province of British Columbia—would choose to send hundreds of millions of dollars overseas instead of investing in Canadian jobs and industry.

BC Ferries has defended the decision as a matter of cost and capacity. According to its leadership, no Canadian shipyard submitted a bid for the project, citing full order books or higher labour costs that would make the project less competitive. The Chinese yard, they argue, offered the best value, with a reported cost advantage of roughly $1.2 billion over other options. On paper, that may seem like fiscal prudence. In practice, it’s a deeply short-sighted move that undervalues the strategic, economic, and social benefits of keeping such work in Canada.

Shipbuilding isn’t just about constructing vessels—it’s about maintaining the skills, infrastructure, and economic sovereignty that ensure we can meet our own transportation needs in the future. Each ship built at home represents hundreds of well-paying jobs, millions in spinoff benefits, and the kind of industrial resilience that can’t be outsourced. By awarding this contract overseas, BC Ferries has chosen short-term savings over long-term capacity building, at a time when both provincial and federal governments publicly tout their commitment to “buy Canadian” policies. In a global climate where supply chains can be disrupted overnight and geopolitical tensions can escalate without warning, British Columbia should be asking whether the cheapest option today might prove the costliest tomorrow.