New Democrat ferries critic Claire Trevena is criticizing the move by BC Ferries to award a $165 million dollar contract a Polish company. Remontowa Shipbuilding will be building three LNG-fueled ferries.
Trevena says the NDP knew the vessels were likely going to be built abroad, but she says it’s a missed opportunity for BC’s economy.
BC Ferries will have to spend $51 million dollars in taxes and federal import duties, money that Trevena says could be used to create shipbuilding jobs in the province.
Trevena says she’s still working on the Provincial Shipbuilding Act, which was introduced in May. She says there are unnecessary obstacles blocking Canadian shipbuilders from bidding on BC Ferries RFPs. The Act would guarantee that BC companies, followed by Canadian companies, would get the first crack at BC Ferries shipbuilding contracts.
