Canada Transport Minister Freeland slams B.C. Ferries deal with Chinese company

Lauren Vanderdeen · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 20, 2025 11:23 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

B.C. Ferries has drawn the ire of national Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland for its determination to declaration a Chinese state-owned shipyard to physique 4 caller vessels for its rider fleet.

Freeland besides expressed concerns astir security risks related to the contract.

In a missive to B.C.'s Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth released Friday afternoon, Freeland expressed her "great consternation and disappointment" with the ferry operator.

"I americium dismayed that B.C. Ferries would prime a Chinese state-owned shipyard to physique caller ferries successful the existent geopolitical context," Freeland wrote.

Earlier this month, B.C. Ferries said the winning bidder connected the declaration is China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards. No Canadian companies bid connected the ships, according to B.C. Ferries.

But Freeland said, fixed the worth of the declaration and the magnitude of payer wealth provided to B.C. Ferries' operations, she would person expected Canadian companies to beryllium progressive successful the bid process.

"I americium amazed that B.C. Ferries does not look to person been mandated to necessitate an due level of Canadian contented successful the procurement oregon the engagement of the Canadian marine industry," she wrote.

Freeland said China has imposed "unjustified tariffs" connected Canadian goods, including 100 per cent tariffs connected canola oil, repast and pea imports and a 25 per cent work connected Canadian aquatic products and pork.

She asked her provincial counterpart to stock what it volition bash to code imaginable threats to security, including cybersecurity, and find however B.C. Ferries volition lessen "the risks that vas attraction and spare parts whitethorn pose."

"I would similar your assurance that B.C. Ferries conducted a robust hazard assessment, and I expect them to prosecute with the applicable provincial and national information agencies and departments to mitigate immoderate information risk."

WATCH | Farnworth worries astir B.C. Ferries contract:

Freeland said the national authorities has a agelong grounds of providing fiscal enactment to B.C. Ferries, including a national subsidy of $37.8 cardinal successful 2025-26 dating backmost to a 1977 agreement.

The missive went connected to accidental the Canada Infrastructure Bank is providing the ferry relation with a $75-million indebtedness to concern the acquisition of 4 zero-emission ferries and instal charging infrastructure

Freeland asked Farnworth to corroborate "with utmost certainty" that nary national backing would beryllium utilized to get the caller ferries.

In an emailed connection precocious Friday, Farnworth said helium has spoken to Freeland astir the request to bolster the province's shipbuilding sector.

"B.C. has the skilled labour — a concern with the national government, provincial governments, and manufacture is indispensable for Canadian shipyards to grow carnal capableness to physique commercialized vessels connected some coasts," helium said.

The B.C. Ministry of Transportation said it is reviewing Freeland's letter.

B.C. Ferries' response

Jeff Groot, executive manager of communications with B.C. Ferries, said Weihai Shipyards was selected pursuing a rigorous and transparent procurement process.

"It was the strongest bid by a important margin," helium said successful an emailed statement.

Groot said Canadian companies person acquired astir 100 vessels built astatine Chinese shipyards implicit the past decade.

"Globally, lone a fewer shipyards person the capableness to present analyzable rider ferries connected the timelines and budgets required."

Groot said B.C. Ferries has been moving with Transport Canada since earlier the declaration was signed, and with Public Safety Canada connected information and information issues.

"Also, delicate systems volition beryllium sourced separately and independently certified earlier the vessels participate service. B.C. Ferries intends that each of our IT networks volition beryllium procured from wrong Canada and installed connected the vessel by B.C. Ferries' ain personnel," Groot said.

He added a full-time B.C. Ferries oversight squad volition beryllium connected tract astatine the shipyard.