Please reach out to your MLA and let them know Ferries CAN and SHOULD be built here in BC!
Below you will find template letters to email your MLA. One is for people living in NDP ridings and one is for people living in opposition ridings.
The below link will let people find their MLA and that MLA’s party by searching their postal code.
Please copy and past the following form letter ( NDP )
Dear [Insert MLA name]
I write today not only as a constituent but also as a member of IAM Union (formerly IAMAW) District 250. District 250 represents 3400 skilled trades workers across British Columbia with hundreds in the ship building industry.
It is unconscionable in times of economic uncertainty that BC Ferries, a crown corporation wholly owned by the people of British Columbia is rigging the bidding to ensure that ferries serving British Columbians be built overseas in China, a country that is imposing a 100% tariff on select Canadian agricultural products.
We have the capacity to build these ferries here. This has been known by the government of British Columbia as outlined in a leaked report commissioned by Seaspan in 2023. (See link)
To paraphrase the article: Thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity.
Thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity. For unionized workers. Billions of dollars that will be recirculated through the British Columbia economy and taxed at every step of the way. There is no economic, moral or political justification to instead send this money to a country that can at best be described as adversarial.
We have the facilities, the talent, and the capacity. We also have the need to train the next generation of shipbuilders. These are not difficult ships to build.
I urge you strenuously to convince the caucus to reverse this asinine decision. It would be a morale boost to the delegates of the upcoming BC NDP convention and reassure those that worked hard in the last election to reelect the BC NDP that the party still cares about working British Columbians.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your riding]
[Contact phone number if desired]
OR THIS FORM LETTER FOR THE OPPOSITION:
Dear [Insert MLA name]
I write today not only as a constituent but also as a member of IAM Union (formerly IAMAW) District 250. District 250 represents 3400 skilled trades workers across British Columbia with many in the ship building industry.
It is unconscionable in times of economic uncertainty that BC Ferries, a crown corporation wholly owned by the people of British Columbia is rigging the bidding to ensure that ferries serving British Columbians be built overseas in China, a country that is imposing a 100% tariff on select Canadian agricultural products.
We have the capacity to build these ferries here. This has been known by the government of British Columbia as outlined in a leaked report commissioned by Seaspan in 2023. (See link)
To paraphrase the article: Thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity.
Thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity. For unionized workers. Billions of dollars that will be recirculated through the British Columbia economy and taxed at every step of the way. There is no economic, moral or political justification to instead send this money to a country that can at best be described as adversarial.
We have the facilities, the talent, and the capacity. We also have the need to train the next generation of shipbuilders. These are not difficult ships to build.
I urge you to tell the government party that this is a bad deal for Canada, British Columbia and workers.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your riding]
[Contact phone number if desired]
