BC Ferries Got That New New From China, And The Union Is Big Mad 🚢🇨🇳

The Tea

Okay, so boom. BC Ferries was like, "We need some new ferries, stat!" They put out a call, but no Canadian companies were tryna step up to the plate (apparently they were too busy with other gigs). So, BC Ferries went full-on international and hit up China Merchants Industry (CMI) Weihai Shipyards, a Chinese company, to build four brand spankin' new vessels. These ain't your grandma's ferries either; they're talking diesel-battery hybrid vibes with the potential to go full electric later on. Eco-friendly and boujee, you feel?

But here's where it gets spicy. The BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union is NOT feeling it. They're like, "Hold up, why aren't we keeping these shipbuilding jobs in B.C.?" They're saying it's a major L for the local economy. The B.C. Conservative Leader, John Rustad, is also throwing shade, bringing up the whole U.S.-China tension situation. Drama, am I right?

The Transportation Minister is out here saying he's "disappointed" that Canadian shipyards weren't in the mix but also had to acknowledge that BC Ferries isn't a Crown corporation, so they can do their thing. He did emphasize that maintenance and repair contracts will stay in B.C., so that's a W for the locals.

BC Ferries is trying to play it cool, saying they did their due diligence. They sent out the request for proposals, did all the checks, and apparently, CMI Weihai Shipyards was the only one who could deliver the goods, specializing in the specific boats they needed. They also dropped some serious cash deets, claiming they'll be investing over $230 million locally on refits and maintenance in the first 10 years of the ships' lives. This will generate employment opportunities and contribute to B.C.'s GDP. These boats aren't hitting the water till 2029-2031, so buckle up; this saga is just getting started.