A BC Ferries vessel arrives in Campbell River, B.C., on Oct. 11, 2024. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press
B.C. Conservative MLA and transportation critic Harman Bhangu is urging the province to cancel BC Ferries’ deal with a Chinese shipyard, citing national security concerns and the advancement of Beijing’s interests. He says the vessels could be built in Canada on a similar timeline while safeguarding the province’s sovereignty.
Bhangu says having a Chinese state-owned shipyard build four new vessels for BC Ferries involves security and moral issues, including possible data collection, potential use of forced labour, and Beijing’s record of interfering in Canada’s democracy. He says the province should seek to rescind the deal, and work with domestic firms to build the vessels in Canada.
