A group of 17 organizations representing over 7,000 workers in British Columbia’s marine and related industries is urging B.C. Ferries to construct future vessels within the province as part of their Build Them Here campaign, emphasizing the importance of promoting Canadian manufacturing amid changing economic dynamics.
The coalition highlighted the significance of sourcing and building vessels domestically, particularly in light of recent trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. B.C. Building Trades executive director Brynn Bourke stressed the critical need for investing in Canadian shipbuilding capabilities.
In June 2025, B.C. Ferries announced its decision to engage Chinese state-owned China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards to construct four new major vessels, drawing concerns from B.C. Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth regarding economic impacts and national interests.
While B.C. Ferries stated that it actively sought Canadian participation in the procurement process, no final proposals were received from the two pre-qualified Canadian shipyards. The ferry operator cited the urgency of replacing aging vessels and emphasized the necessity of enhancing Canada’s shipbuilding industry, noting the potential benefits of government and industry investments in expanding capacity for large passenger-vessel construction.
Kendra Strauss, director of Simon Fraser University’s labor studies program, acknowledged the current limitations of Canadian shipyards in handling such large-scale orders but stressed the importance of providing adequate lead time for local capacity development and ensuring a steady flow of orders through collaboration with governments and B.C. Ferries.
Eric McNeely, president of the B.C. Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union, highlighted the challenges associated with overseas vessel construction, such as reliance on international teams and specialized parts for repairs, leading to delays in maintenance work.
The province is actively pursuing the growth of its maritime and shipbuilding sector through the Look West strategy, aiming to leverage the expertise of local shipbuilding companies and skilled tradespeople. With British Columbia boasting the largest maritime economy in Canada, the government aims to promote local shipbuilding by encouraging more ferries and ships to be constructed within the province.