Protecting Gatineau Park
A Quebec Senator has introduced a bill to provide greater ecological protections of Gatineau Park. CTV's Josh Marano has the details.
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National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland 'dismayed' about BC Ferries' contract with 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. Article content 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. Article content Article content BC Ferries announced earlier this month that it has contracted China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards to build four new major vessels following a five-year-long procurement process that did not include a Canadian bid. Article content Article content Freeland adds she is 'surprised' that BC Ferries does not have a mandate for an 'appropriate level' of Canadian content in the procurement given the value of the contract, although the dollar figure hasn't been made public. Article content BC Ferries says in a statement that the Chinese bid was 'the strongest bid by a significant margin' and that security is a 'top priority,' adding that all sensitive systems will be sourced separately and independently certified before the vessels enter service. Article content
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Chrystia Freeland slams BC Ferries' decision to build ships in China
Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Controversy over BC Ferries' decision to award a contract to a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels has reached Ottawa. Federal Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland had some strong words for her B.C. counterpart Mike Farnworth in a letter dated June 16 and obtained by CTV News Friday. Read more: Eby won't stop BC Ferries from building new ships in China, but says it's 'not ideal' 'It is with great consternation and disappointment that I learned of BC Ferries' recent announcement it has selected China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards,' the letter begins. Freeland pointed out China's tariffs on Canadian agriculture products—which include a 100 per cent levy on canola oil, meal and peas and 25 per cent on fish and pork—calling them unjustified. She also highlighted concerns regarding threats to cybersecurity from the country. 'I am dismayed that BC Ferries would select a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build new ferries in the current geopolitical context,' she wrote. Read more: BC Ferries union upset Chinese company was hired to build new vessels She asked to be informed of what measures BC Ferries is taking to address potential security threats. 'I would like your assurance that BC 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,' the letter reads. When BC Ferries announced the deal on June 10, it said it would have its own team of experts on site during construction 'to provide oversight and quality assurance.' Read more: Business leader says BC Ferries' hiring of Chinese shipyard is 'informed decision' 'We are confident that CMI Weihai will be able to meet our high expectations for safety and quality, while delivering tremendous value for our customers and on-time delivery of the four vessels,' the company said in a statement at the time. Notably, no Canadian companies placed a bid on the project. When BC Ferries opened its call for proposals last September, major B.C. shipbuilder Seaspan said in a statement it would not be able to compete with countries that pay workers less and have lower environmental and safety standards. 'Given the value of the contract and the level of taxpayer funding that has been provided to support BC Ferries' operations, I am surprised that BC 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,' Freeland wrote. Read more: Minister flags concern over BC Ferries' deal with Chinese state-owned shipyard She listed some of the funding the federal government has given the province and BC Ferries over the years, including $308 million during the COVID-19 pandemic—and asked Farnworth to 'verify and confirm with utmost certainty that no federal funding will be diverted to support the acquisition of these new ferries.' B.C. leaders, namely Farnworth and Premier David Eby, have—using much softer language—expressed disapproval of BC Ferries' decision, but said they won't step in to kill the contract, despite calls from opposition critics and unions to do so.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Business groups push back ahead of Vancouver ‘carbon tax' on commercial buildings
Vancouver City Hall is seen in Vancouver, on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Carbon taxes are falling out of style, with the federal and provincial governments recently pulling back. But in Vancouver, stricter emissions rules are coming for commercial buildings starting next year. It's part of the city's efforts to cut carbon pollution in half by 2030. 'What the City of Vancouver is planning to implement here essentially amounts to a second carbon tax being implemented at the municipal level,' Ryan Mitton with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business told CTV News in an interview on Friday. 'And what this is going to be a charge of $350 per tonne of CO2 that each building emits over a certain level set by the City of Vancouver.' The new rules take effect in January and include a $500 permit fee. Business groups fear buildings in violation could be hit with fines in the range of $14,000. 'The landlord will then take that invariably and pass that on to the tenants,' Ian Tostenson with the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association told CTV News. While restaurant emissions are exempt according to the city, if a large building is penalized for emitting too much, Tostenson fears landlords will pass that cost on to all tenants in the building, including restaurants. Given the federal and provincial governments recently eliminated carbon taxes, businesses are calling for Vancouver to follow suit and back away from this plan. 'I just really hope that Mayor Ken Sim and council look at this proposal and decide to walk it back,' Mitton said. The city believes 84 per cent of buildings will be in compliance, based on 2024 figures, and says financial penalties only kick in by 2027 – which it says will allow enough time for building owners to prepare for the new regulations. This is a phased program that was initially voted for in 2022, and given how much has changed economically, some of these business groups believe city council would be willing to press pause on this, but there is no formal indication at this point that will happen. The city stresses this plan is about reducing emissions, not about generating revenue, and says based on reporting to date, most large buildings will be in compliance when the rules kick in.
