It’s a good thing Russia didn’t table a low-ball bid for the next round of BC Ferries ships. Because the province might well be shaking hands with Vladamir Putin right now for four shiny new boats, based on the decision-making and values on display Tuesday by Premier David Eby.

It’s hard to escape that conclusion, after listening to the premier defend his decision not to overturn a multibillion-dollar contract between government-owned BC Ferries and the government of China.

He ducked questions about supporting a brutal authoritarian regime with public money, and his own vocal criticism of China for things like election interference, money laundering and the toxic drug crisis. Instead, he repeated a single defence: China can build our ferries faster and cheaper than anyone else.

“It took five years to get through this process,” he said. “We will not leave families sitting on the blacktop waiting for a ferry that is broken down on the strait somewhere when they need to get to see grandma, or a business [is] desperate to get their deliveries. They’re just urgently needed ferries.”

In other words, the ends justify the means when it comes to the government-owned BC Ferries corporation. With that logic, we should count ourselves lucky North Korea didn’t bid.

“I agree it's not ideal that the ferry award went to China,” said Eby. “But reopening would mean a delay in delivering ferries for British Columbians who are desperate for them, would mean significantly increased costs, and at this point, I'm not prepared to do that.”

It is a message not likely to sit well........

© BIV