The only way to describe B.C. Ferries’ contract with a Chinese state-owned shipbuilder is an “enormous disappointment.” This contract does a great disservice to our youth, British Columbians in general and Canadians as a whole.

B.C. Ferries claims they’re focused on “getting the best deal,” but their deal has robbed marine-trades workers and apprentices of their future livelihoods, and lost an opportunity for Canada’s shipbuilding industry to set sail.

This contract has personally struck a chord because shipbuilding has given me so much to be grateful for in Victoria.

After I graduated from high school, my first job was building the Queen of Oak Bay for B.C. Ferries in 1981.

I was lucky; the job provided a good, mortgage-paying, family-raising job that gave me the economic security I needed to buy my first home at 23 years old. Shipbuilding helped set my career as an electrician for almost the past half-century. All because of the opportunities created by B.C. Ferries and the B.C. government.

Today’s youth will not have the same opportunities as I had growing up. This is a massive loss for high school graduates and young adults. B.C. Ferries has the ability to make a difference and contribute to the growth of apprenticeship programs within B.C. by keeping thousands of jobs here and not sending them to China.

More than ever, our kids need opportunity. Keep B.C. shipbuilding local!

Phil Venoit

Business Manager, IBEW Local 230

Victoria

OK, so no Canadian companies have the capacity or time to build ferries for B.C.

Could we not at least have insisted that China must use only Canadian steel and aluminum in the construction? That would support one area of our domestic industries.

Roel Hurkens

Victoria

Re: “B.C. must aggressively recruit ­family doctors,” editorial, June 13.

It was not the British Columbia Medical Association that lobbied the province to reduce the number of doctors being trained.

The Barer-Stoddart report was commissioned by the government to help bring down health care costs. They advised reducing the number of medical school seats and fewer immigrant doctors being allowed to practise in B.C.

Peter Houghton

Victoria

Re: “B.C. must aggressively recruit........

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