Rob Shaw: Seaspan tour leaves politicians fuming over BC Ferries deal with China
Politicians from different parties toured North Vancouver’s Seaspan shipyards recently, emerging with differing opinions about the ongoing scandal involving BC Ferries’ decision to build new ships in China.
Federal Conservatives concluded their tour lamenting Prime Minister Mark Carney has failed to seize the moment to expand domestic shipbuilding at Seaspan using the BC Ferries contract for four new ferries.
“We’re subsidizing the offshoring of these jobs to China,” said North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn, who visited Friday alongside Okanagan Lake West-South Kelowna’s Dan Albas.
“I don’t think it’s right. And I don’t think it should have ever happened.”
BC Conservatives left the shipyard blaming Premier David Eby for failing to grow Seaspan with a promised 2021 shipbuilding strategy, and for not intervening to block the government-owned BC Ferries from contracting with the hostile, authoritarian Chinese regime.
“Is this the right time to be giving all your money to China, when they are going to turn around and use it against us?” said Harman Bhangu, Langley-Abbotsford MLA and transportation critic, who also toured Friday.
“Or is it time to take this seriously and create some good-paying jobs?”
The BC NDP government came out of its Seaspan tour on Thursday to address the BC Ferries China scandal head on in remarkably candid fashion.
Just kidding.
Deputy Attorney General Niki Sharma posted a short video online that didn’t contain the words ferry, ferries or BC Ferries at all.
“These shipyards are critical to........
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