In a story reported on social media and underreported in the dominant press, the government of British Columbia’s purchase of four ferries has escaped the news coverage it deserves. Thanks to The Bureau and the work of Sam Cooper, more light is being shed on what should be a matter of great concern to Canadians and an issue that parliament addresses. Why care about China building ferries for BC Ferries? The story has many tentacles, side twists, and a few turns. The bottom line reveals the Canadian government’s corruption, duplicity, and inability to keep track of what the right and left hands are doing.
The company building the four ferries for B.C. demonstrates the fusion in China between civil and military industry. Whether the goods produced are solar panels, phones, smart cars, ferries, or military equipment, Chinese companies embed spyware in the products to gather information from everyday North Americans. More importantly, the company building the ferries for British Columbia will also produce ferries to invade Taiwan if you believe the intelligence reports. The story gets worse. Canadian taxpayers are funding China’s efforts to prepare for an invasion of Taiwan, and the B.C. government remains very quiet about its involvement. When Chrystia Freeland, the former minister of transportation in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, found out about the connection, she was shocked. She wanted the decision explained, pointed out national security concerns, and demanded answers. It turns out, as the Globe and Mail reported, she was fully aware of the funding. The whole matter was political theatre. The Canadian government provided B.C. with a $1-billion loan. However, not for a Canadian company, but rather for China and its military buildup.
Meanwhile, the B.C. government plays dumb, refuses to answer questions, and when freedom of access documents are made available, they are heavily redacted. As Cooper explains, add the redacted documents to the Freeland letter, feigning shock, and a low- or no-interest loan, and something smells rotten at the Infrastructure Bank. In an interview on The Bureau’s site, Jason James asked Cooper if anything could be done about the loan, and Cooper replied that these loans were intended to fund Canadian infrastructure, and they could be recalled. Instead, Carney delivered the usual theatre of hearings, questions, and delays. Further defence intelligence revealed that the American government’s concerns grew when they heard that part of China’s invasion plans for Taiwan included using ferries to help transport military hardware, including tanks, to the shores of Taiwan. If Carney were serious about our relationship with the United States, he would not want any part of funding ferries for China, especially if it could be proven that China planned to use ferries as part of a military attack on Taiwan. He should be exploring options to halt the deal, find another partner, and be transparent in Parliament. Instead, Cooper must search for the truth while parliamentarians, who swear an oath to protect Canada, sell our nation’s soul to a government aiming to expand its territory.
As James points out, during the give-and-take, Hawaii is not far from Taiwan, which could lead to full-scale war with the United States. Canada would, unfortunately, be at the centre of the controversy, sending money to the Chinese government and scoring ferries that are being used to ignite a war. This stresses the continuity of the Trudeau government and the present one.
Business dealings with China increased under the previous government, including those with Quebec, which became a part of the Chinese military build-up. Other Western nations have been working to reduce reliance on China, but beyond China, intelligence leaks point to Russia helping Chinese paratroopers train to do airdrops. These airdrops could occur in Taiwan or anywhere in the South China Sea and Pacific. The imagination does not need to run wild, imagining the Chinese airdropping soldiers into American territory and protectorates throughout the region. Guam, the Philippines, and American Samoa would all be vulnerable to a Chinese attack. President Donald Trump knows Canada has been assisting China in their efforts to militarize. Does this clarify his concerns about Canada’s foreign policy?
The Trump Administration has relentlessly pressed Mexico and Canada to stop the fentanyl trade. Trump sees Canada as a weak link in a problem bigger than fentanyl, a form of chemical warfare. The U.S. fears a hybrid war of drugs, expanding territory, and punitive tariffs could turn hot. The Americans recently called on military production companies to increase their supplies of ammunition and equipment. The BC Ferries deal may seem small, but this money contributes to Chinese preparations to attack Taiwan. America, having its closest neighbour underwriting a potential war with China, will not get economic talks back on track. In fact, it will also potentially create huge problems inside Canada. How will the public take to Canadian troops being asked to contribute to the defence of American territories under siege because of Chinese attacks? Attacks partially funded through Canadian funds used to purchase ferries for B.C.
The context of this story may seem like one out of a spy novel, but we live in a world where information sought can be found in places, far from its source, and in seemingly quotidian circumstances. When a government works harder than usual to appear surprised, delay accountability, create theatre, or obfuscate documents, it should raise the suspicions of its citizens. The fact that Cooper or any investigative journalist must uncover, dig, and piece together a story reflects good journalism. That the Carney government would go to such lengths to hide the information, cover up released documents, and refuse to admit poor judgment about a loan should worry every Canadian. What else is Carney choosing to ignore, leave in the hands of ministers to decide, or justify because it is politically expedient in 2025? This story has more threads. Canada’s Infrastructure Bank deserves attention in a future article.
Dave Redekop is a retired elementary resource teacher who worked part-time at the St. Catharines Courthouse as a Registrar until being appointed Executive Director at Redeemer Bible Church in October 2023. He has worked on political campaigns since high school and attended university in South Carolina for five years, earning a Master’s in American History with a specialization in Civil Rights. Dave loves reading biographies.
