No matter where you look, everyone has a boatload of opinions about BC Ferries awarding construction contracts to a Chinese state-owned firm to build four new vessels.
In an era of unnecessary and punitive trade wars, deteriorating international relations and populist indignation, there seems to be a consensus among pundits where the ferries should be built: right here. But patriotism is no match for pragmatism, and the fact is no Canadian firms bid on the job.
Here on the North Shore, we are thrilled to see that Seaspan is booked to full capacity for years ahead building ships for the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy. But last fall, the company warned it could not bid on the ferry contract when international competitors have lower environmental and labour standards, and much lower wages.
If we want those ferries built here, we would likely need to sink hundreds of millions of dollars into creating more capacity and likely billions more in subsidies getting them built. And the same pundit class calling for BC Ferries’ leadership be keelhauled aren’t any more forgiving when public works projects come in at any higher cost to taxpayers than they have to.
There’s also the matter of actually getting the needed ships built on time and put into service. For the province’s ferry-dependent communities, working vessels are a must-have – a lifeline.
We would love to see every future BC Ferries vessel built in a Canadian shipyard, but patriotism offers little comfort when you’re left waiting on the dock.
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