Federal Transport Minister Freeland ‘dismayed' about choice of Chinese shipyard

VICTORIA - Federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland says she is 'dismayed' that BC Ferries has contracted a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels in the current geopolitical context that includes 'unjustified' tariffs on Canada.
Freeland says in a letter sent to provincial Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth that she expects BC Ferries to inform her about all measures that it plans to take to 'mitigate any security risks,' including cybersecurity problems that might arise from the decision.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Winnipeg Free Press

36 minutes ago

• Winnipeg Free Press

Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong warns of persisting national security threats

HONG KONG (AP) — A top Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong affairs on Saturday warned of persisting threats in the city as a China-imposed national security law approaches its fifth anniversary, while seeking to allay concerns about the law's impact on the financial hub's openness. Speaking at a forum about the law, attended also by the city leader John Lee and other officials. Xia Baolong, the director of China's Hong Kong and Macao Work Office, said various forms of soft resistance continue to emerge in new forms and external forces have never ceased their intervention in Hong Kong. 'Hong Kong has transformed from chaos to order. But just as a tree desires stillness, the wind continues to blow,' Xia said. The Beijing and Hong Kong governments deemed the law necessary to maintain the city's stability following anti-government protests in 2019. Under the law, many leading pro-democracy activists, including Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, were prosecuted. Dozens of civil society groups disbanded. This month, authorities have stepped up their crackdown, including charging young activist Joshua Wong, who was already sentenced last year over a subversion case, under the law for the second time and targeting a mobile game app. Last week, China's national security authorities in Hong Kong and the city's police launched their first publicly known joint operation, raiding the homes of six people on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. Critics say the political changes indicate that the Western-style civil liberties Beijing promised to keep intact when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 are shrinking. But Xia said the law only targeted an extremely small number of people who severely endanger national security. He also sought to allay concerns about Hong Kong's openness and international position. He insisted that normal international exchanges do not violate Hong Kong's national security law but rather are protected by it.

CBC

6 hours ago

• CBC

Canada Transport Minister Freeland slams B.C. Ferries deal with Chinese company

B.C. Ferries has drawn the ire of federal Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland for its decision to contract a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels for its passenger fleet. Freeland also expressed concerns about security risks related to the contract. In a letter to B.C.'s Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth released Friday afternoon, Freeland expressed her "great consternation and disappointment" with the ferry operator. "I am dismayed that B.C. Ferries would select a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build new ferries in the current geopolitical context," Freeland wrote. Earlier this month, B.C. Ferries said the winning bidder on the contract is China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards. No Canadian companies bid on the ships, according to B.C. Ferries. But Freeland said, given the value of the contract and the amount of taxpayer money provided to B.C. Ferries' operations, she would have expected Canadian companies to be involved in the bid process. "I am surprised that B.C. Ferries does not appear to have been mandated to require an appropriate level of Canadian content in the procurement or the involvement of the Canadian marine industry," she wrote. Freeland said China has imposed "unjustified tariffs" on Canadian goods, including 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, meal and pea imports and a 25 per cent duty on Canadian aquatic products and pork. She asked her provincial counterpart to share what it will do to address potential threats to security, including cybersecurity, and determine how B.C. Ferries will lessen "the risks that vessel maintenance and spare parts may pose." "I would like your assurance that B.C. Ferries conducted a robust risk assessment, and I expect them to engage with the relevant provincial and federal security agencies and departments to mitigate any security risk." WATCH | Farnworth worries about B.C. Ferries contract: Transportation minister concerned over B.C. Ferries' construction deal with Chinese shipyard 9 days ago Duration 2:06 Freeland said the federal government has a long record of providing financial support to B.C. Ferries, including a federal subsidy of $37.8 million in 2025-26 dating back to a 1977 agreement. The letter went on to say the Canada Infrastructure Bank is providing the ferry operator with a $75-million loan to finance the purchase of four zero-emission ferries and install charging infrastructure Freeland asked Farnworth to confirm "with utmost certainty" that no federal funding would be used to acquire the new ferries. In an emailed statement late Friday, Farnworth said he has spoken to Freeland about the need to bolster the province's shipbuilding sector. "B.C. has the skilled labour — a partnership with the federal government, provincial governments, and industry is essential for Canadian shipyards to expand physical capacity to build commercial vessels on both coasts," he said. The B.C. Ministry of Transportation said it is reviewing Freeland's letter. B.C. Ferries' response Jeff Groot, executive director of communications with B.C. Ferries, said Weihai Shipyards was selected following a rigorous and transparent procurement process. "It was the strongest bid by a significant margin," he said in an emailed statement. Groot said Canadian companies have acquired around 100 vessels built at Chinese shipyards over the last decade. "Globally, only a few shipyards have the capacity to deliver complex passenger ferries on the timelines and budgets required." Groot said B.C. Ferries has been working with Transport Canada since before the contract was signed, and with Public Safety Canada on safety and security issues. "Also, sensitive systems will be sourced separately and independently certified before the vessels enter service. B.C. Ferries intends that all of our IT networks will be procured from within Canada and installed on the ship by B.C. Ferries' own personnel," Groot said. He added a full-time B.C. Ferries oversight team will be on site at the shipyard.

Toronto Star

7 hours ago

• Toronto Star

Canada Transport Minister Freeland ‘dismayed' by BC Ferries deal with Chinese company

VICTORIA - Canada's transport minister says she is 'dismayed' BC Ferries contracted a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels in the current geopolitical context that includes 'unjustified' tariffs on Canada. Chrystia Freeland, in a letter to her B.C. counterpart Mike Farnworth, said she expects BC Ferries to inform her of all measures it plans to take to 'mitigate any security risks,' including cybersecurity problems that might arise.