The Commons Transport Committee on Monday voted to investigate taxpayers’ financing of shipyard jobs in China, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. Members approved a motion by Conservative MP Dan Albas (Okanagan Lake West-South Kelowna, BC) to find who approved the use of “scarce public taxpayer dollars” to benefit a Chinese state-run company.“We expect ministers to appear,” Albas told the committee. Cabinet had proved “hapless,” he said.The Canada Infrastructure Bank on June 26 confirmed it approved $1.1 billion in financing for replacement of BC Ferries’ aging fleet including the purchase of four new vessels from China’s state-run Weihai Shipyards. “It’s not good,” said Albas.MPs by unanimous vote approved Albas’ motion “that the committee urgently undertake a study of the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s decision to provide $1 billion in low-interest financing to BC Ferries for the purchase of new vessels from a Chinese state-owned shipyard” with testimony from Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson and the CEOs of the Bank and BC Ferries..“My focus is largely on getting answers so people can know whether or not their government – remember, the government that said ‘elbows up,’ ‘Canada strong,’ ‘we can build it together’ – is in fact actually financing the outsourcing of Canadian jobs,” said Albas.“The hapless new minister of infrastructure knew nothing of a $1 billion loan agreement that had been signed by the Canada Infrastructure Bank essentially financing with taxpayer dollars the outsourcing of Canadian jobs to a shipyard in China,” said Albas.“Imagine my shock that we learned during a time of unjustified steel and aluminum tariffs, where people are receiving pink slips because of these American tariffs, that their own government is actually using their tax dollars to subsidize jobs and economic activity outside the country.”Cabinet repeatedly denied any federal role in the outsourcing of shipyard jobs by BC Ferries, a provincial agency. “The British Columbia government is responsible for the decision,” Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson told the Commons June 11..Freeland also claimed no federal funding was going to the Chinese shipyard.“The support BC Ferries receives from Transport Canada is entirely for operations and there is no capital expenditure,” she said June 12.“Where is the transparency?” Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis (Haldimand-Norfolk, ON.) asked Monday.“Why are they funding projects that are taking jobs from Canadians and giving them to countries with much lower labour standards, much lower environmental standards, a much lower ethical standard?”“Let’s have a little bit less fog-horning from the members opposite,” retorted Liberal MP Will Greaves (Victoria).“It is disappointing to see our colleagues opposite making very familiar political points using as a whipping post what is in fact a critical piece of infrastructure in our province of British Columbia.”“While perhaps some of colleagues, particularly those I note from the province of Ontario, may be less familiar with the critical role BC Ferries plays in supporting BC coastal communities, this is a service that is very unfortunately being played politics with currently.”Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Pierre Boucher-Les Patriotes, QC) said all Canadians had an interest in supporting Canadian shipyard jobs.“I have thousands of steelworkers in my riding who would have been very pleased to benefit from Canadian public funds rather than that money being sent abroad to China,” he said.“I would like to know how they defend this decision to give $1 billion in public funds which will end up in a Chinese state-owned shipyard’s pocket. I find this surprising. It’s not the first time.”
