AFTER a tour of Seaspan Shipyards in North Vancouver on Friday, John Horgan said a re-elected BC NDP government will launch a long-term BC shipbuilding strategy to create good jobs and bring more work to BC shipyards.
“For years, shipbuilding was being outsourced to other countries — leaving BC workers and companies behind,” said Horgan. “Our long-term strategy is about making strategic investments that will keep BC shipyards modern and competitive, able to win more contracts and create more jobs.”
Horgan said he would also keep fighting to bring construction of Canada’s next Polar Icebreaker back to British Columbia shipyards, a project that would create up to 1,400 jobs. Seaspan Shipyards CEO Mark Lamarre welcomed Horgan to the shipyard and thanked him for his advocacy, as well as the strong support of all government partners.
“By leveraging the world-class talent of more than 2,700 employees and our strategic location on the Pacific coast, in less than a decade we have revived industrial shipbuilding expertise and capacity in BC that had been lost,” said Lamarre. “We cannot afford to lose it again. The shipbuilding and marine industry in this province has become a critical and long-term economic engine, and we need to preserve and protect it. The Shipbuilding Strategy for BC represents an important next step in that journey.”
Background on John Horgan’s made-in-BC shipbuilding plan:
- Re-elected BC NDP commits to working with Ottawa and BC shipyards to identify the areas where strategic investments could have the most impact.
- Shipbuilding Strategy for BC will also include strategic investments in repair, maintenance, and refit.
- On June 11, Premier Horgan wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressing his support for Seaspan’s ability to construct the next Polar Icebreaker vessel.
