A $1 billion federal loan to BC Ferries to purchase four new electric ships from a Chinese shipyard is drawing harsh criticism from Haldimand–Norfolk MP Leslyn Lewis, who is calling the move another example of misplaced Liberal government priorities.
The loan, announced by the federal Crown corporation Canada Infrastructure Bank, is intended to support BC Ferries in buying the vessels from China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards.
While BC Ferries says the agreement with the bank was signed before the Chinese shipyard was confirmed as the contractor, critics say the decision raises serious concerns about national security, economic sovereignty, and job creation at home.
Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland had already expressed her “great consternation” about the deal in a letter sent to British Columbia’s government on June 16, where she demanded confirmation that no federal funds would be diverted to the offshore purchase.
However, Lewis says that letter does little to address the issue.
“Unbelievably, the Liberals’ Infrastructure Bank just handed out $1B of taxpayer-funded loans for ships built in China,” said MP Lewis in a strongly worded statement. “Chrystia Freeland expressed her “great consternation” about the deal, citing “security concerns” yet she made no mention that her own government is bank-rolling it at subsidized rates, sending Canadian jobs abroad.”
Lewis, a Conservative MP, said this is precisely the kind of action that underscores why her party has long opposed the Canada Infrastructure Bank questioning the transparency and they were funding projects that benefit foreign nations instead of supporting Canada’s own skilled workers and shipyards.
She added that the situation highlights what she sees as a lack of accountability within the government’s infrastructure spending, warning that, “So far, the Carney Liberals are making the Trudeau years look like the warm-up act.”
According to BC Ferries spokesperson Jeff Groot, the loan was signed before the Chinese shipyard was awarded the contract, and the company confirmed there were no Canadian bids submitted for the project.
Still, the controversy continues to grow over whether Canadian taxpayers should be footing the bill for foreign-built infrastructure—particularly when concerns about national interest and domestic job loss are involved.