Ottawa, ON – Dan Albas, Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, released the following statement on the Liberals’ “Made in Canada” Ferries Summit:
“Canadian steelworkers and shipbuilders don’t need a summit to tell them that ferries should be built here. Unions already told the government that they ‘have the experience, skills and capacity to build ferries right here in B.C.’
“Yet despite being “dismayed” with BC Ferries’ decision to purchase Beijing ships, Chrystia Freeland invited the CEO to her “Made in Canada” summit to continue defending the decision and denigrate the ability of Canadian shipyards to compete.
“That’s even with the Beijing Communist Party imposing over 75 percent tariffs on Canadian canola seed, 100 percent tariffs on Canadian canola meal and oil, peas, and 25 percent tariffs on pork and seafood products.
“While Canadians are locked out of their market, the Liberals continue to finance a $1 billion loan for foreign ferries from a state-backed shipyard. Canadians have the skills, steel, aluminum and technology to build world-class ships right here with Canadian workers and Canadian materials.
“Canadians shouldn’t be paying to undercut ourselves on environmental standards, worker safety and wages. But while Carney’s government uses taxpayer money to subsidize jobs in Beijing, the only jobs they seem focused on are staffers for endless conferences.
“If the Liberals really wanted to start making ferries in Canada, they would prioritize domestic manufacturing, instead of sending taxpayer cash to a hostile regime. That starts with scrapping the loan to BC Ferries to put Canadian steelworkers and shipbuilders first.”