A B.C. Conservative MLA is calling on the federal transport minister to clarify whether a loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank for BC Ferries to buy four vessels from a Chinese state-owned shipyard will be withdrawn or reconsidered, following the minister’s criticism of the deal.
MLA Harman Bhangu, who is his party’s transportation critic, wrote an open letter to federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland on June 26, seeking “immediate clarification” on the $1 billion loan recently announced by the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) for BC Ferries to purchase new vessels from China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards.
He said he shared Freeland’s concerns about the choice of the Chinese state-owned company, citing China’s “punitive” tariffs on Canada and “ongoing cybersecurity threats” from Beijing, and asked whether Ottawa would act to redirect the investment toward the domestic economy….