DELTA, B.C. – A newly formed coalition of unions is stepping up pressure on BC Ferries to ensure that its future vessels are built in British Columbia rather than overseas.
The campaign, called Build Them Here, brings together more than 15 unions representing over 7,000 workers across the province’s marine industry, including shipbuilders, vessel operators and employees working in related sectors.
The coalition is calling on BC Ferries to prioritize local shipbuilding for its next generation of vessels, arguing that the province has both the expertise and the workforce needed to rebuild a major domestic shipbuilding industry.
“The need to buy Canadian and build Canadian has grown even more critical in the last 10 days,” said Brynn Bourke, executive director of the BC Building Trades, in a statement.
“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 stressed that British Columbia’s shipbuilders have the capabilities to take on the work.
“B.C. shipbuilders are world class. The next round of ferries should be built now and built here,” she said.
A debate that has continued for months
The question of where BC Ferries should build its future fleet has been the subject of ongoing debate.
In July 2025, several unions launched an advertising campaign calling for BC Ferries’ next major vessels to be procured and built in British Columbia.
Public opinion has also shown significant support for rebuilding the province’s shipbuilding capacity. A poll conducted by Leger in November found that 84 per cent of British Columbians want a plan aimed at keeping shipbuilding jobs in B.C., while 61 per cent believe ferries should be constructed within the province.
For Scott Lunny, director of United Steelworkers District 3, the decision to send the construction of four new ferries to China represented a missed economic opportunity for British Columbia.
“Four new ferries should have meant years of good jobs and economic activity in B.C. Instead, BC Ferries sent that work to China,” Lunny said.
“Public dollars should support B.C. workers and build a stronger economy here at home.”
Concerns over global supply chains
Beyond employment and economic considerations, the Build Them Here coalition is also raising concerns about the long-term consequences of relying on overseas construction.
According to Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers Union, building ferries abroad can leave British Columbia dependent on global supply chains for replacement parts and repairs.
“When our ferries are built overseas, British Columbia is at the mercy of global supply chains for parts and repairs,” McNeely said.
“That means increased costs and delays for the communities that depend on ferry service.”
McNeely added that union members have already witnessed repair work being repeatedly delayed while international teams were brought in to address problems that, in some cases, could have been handled locally if locally manufactured parts had been used.
“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,” he said.
The Build Them Here coalition is now encouraging members of the public to support the campaign by sending a letter directly to BC Ferries and calling for future ferry construction to take place in British Columbia.
More information is available through the Build Them Here campaign website.
