VICTORIA, B.C.: BC Conservative Leader John Rustad is slamming Premier David Eby for abandoning Canadian workers by awarding a multi-billion-dollar BC Ferries contract to a Chinese state-owned enterprise – despite publicly excluding China from his recent trade mission.
“Premier Eby talks about building a stronger Canada – but when it mattered most, he turned his back on Canadian workers and handed the deal to Beijing,” said Rustad. “First it was saying no to a new pipeline, now it’s this new agreement. This premier has utterly abandoned Team Canada.”
BC Ferries confirmed that four new vessels will be built in China, bypassing Canadian and allied shipyards – including a credible Norwegian partner. Reports indicate the government missed a critical production deadline with Norway, likely costing taxpayers more in the long run.
“We want to know: what’s the extra cost from the NDP missing the Norway deal?” Rustad asked. “British Columbians deserve transparency – not botched procurement and crisis management.”
The contract, made under the leadership of former NDP cabinet minister and current BC Ferries Chair Joy MacPhail, is estimated to be worth billions.
“While the Premier was posing for cameras and excluding China from his Asian trade mission, he knew full well that BC’s largest ferry contract in years was going straight to China,” said Rustad. “You can’t claim to support Canadian jobs while handing them over to a foreign country.”
“What happened to Canada First?” Rustad concluded. “The BC NDP talks a big game – but their actions consistently fail the people of this province. We need a government that stands up for Canadian workers and Canadian values.”
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Media Contact:
Brad Zubyk, Chief of Staff
brad.zubyk@leg.bc.ca
