New Coalition Urges BC Ferries to Build Future Ferries Locally

📅 5 days ago

A coalition of unions has launched the Build Them Here campaign, advocating for BC Ferries to construct new ferries in British Columbia rather than outsourcing to China, emphasizing local economic benefits and job creation.

In Delta, British Columbia, a newly formed coalition of unions has initiated a campaign named Build Them Here, advocating that BC Ferries should construct future ferries within the province. Brynn Bourke, the executive director of the BC Building Trades, expressed the urgency of this initiative, stating, "The need to buy Canadian and build Canadian has grown even more critical in the last 10 days. In this moment, we can either lean into our long and proud history of shipbuilding in B.C. and rebuild an industry that has supported thousands of British Columbians and their families for decades or we can let this once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring ferry construction home pass us by and continue building ferries in China." Bourke emphasized that B.C. shipbuilders are of world-class caliber and urged that the next round of ferries should be constructed domestically.
The coalition encompasses over 15 unions, collectively representing more than 7,000 workers in the marine industry, including shipbuilders, operators, and workers in related sectors. This campaign emerges amid ongoing discussions regarding BC Ferries’ procurement strategies. In July 2025, several unions had previously released an advertisement advocating for the procurement of new major vessels by BC Ferries. A poll conducted by Leger in November indicated significant public backing for revitalizing B.C.’s shipbuilding sector, with 84 percent of British Columbians supporting a plan to retain shipbuilding jobs locally, and 61 percent favoring that ferries should be built within the province.
Scott Lunny, director of United Steelworkers District 3, criticized the current situation, stating, "Four new ferries should have meant years of good jobs and economic activity in B.C. Instead, BC Ferries sent that work to China. Public dollars should support B.C. workers and build a stronger economy here at home." The Build Them Here coalition is mobilizing community support, encouraging the public to send letters to BC Ferries in favor of local ferry construction.
Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers Union, highlighted the drawbacks of overseas ferry construction, noting, "When our ferries are built overseas, British Columbia is at the mercy of global supply chains for parts and repairs. That means increased costs and delays for the communities that depend on ferry service. Our members have seen repairs delayed and delayed again as we wait for international teams to be flown in to fix things a local supplier could have fixed at home if we had used locally made parts." For further details regarding the campaign, interested individuals can visit buildthemhere.ca.

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