Feds to Discuss Obstacles to Building Ferries Domestically at Hamilton Summit

Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland prepares to appear at the House of Commons transport committee on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Aug. 1, 2025. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

The federal government will host a summit next week in Hamilton, Ont., to discuss with stakeholders the constraints on building ferries domestically, as well as how to use Canadian steel and aluminum in ferry and rail projects.

Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland will host the Sept. 2 event, dubbed the “Made in Canada: Ferries and Rail Summit.” The summit will include the participation of key industry leaders and governments.

“Canada’s ferries, railways, and steel and aluminum industries are the engines that keep our economy moving,” Freeland said in an Aug. 28 statement. “This discussion will bring these sectors together to ensure we’re building with Canadian steel and aluminum, protecting Canadian jobs, and charting the course for the strongest economy in the G7.”

The summit comes after controversy surrounding a $1 billion Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) loan provided to BC Ferries to purchase China-made ferries. The event is also taking place amid the Canadian steel and aluminum sectors being impacted by the sectoral tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

In order to help the industry, the Liberal government has pushed for the use of Canadian steel and aluminum in procurement, and has directed Industry Canada to prioritize funding to projects using the local metals.

Transport Canada now wants new ferries and rail projects to use local steel and aluminum to build. It also says discussions at the summit will address “future needs for ferry and rail projects, capacity constraints and barriers to building in Canada, as well as actions governments could take to support industry.”

Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, who oversees the Crown corporation behind the 1$ billion loan to BC Ferries, said recently that his government is looking at implementing a stronger “Buy Canada” policy.

He said earlier this week that Ottawa needs to make sure it’s doing everything it can “to maximize Canadian content, Canadian jobs, Canadian materials,” while citing opportunities in investments and sourcing materials. Robertson added Canada hasn’t been the “strongest on this,” in reference to prioritizing Canadian jobs and materials, compared to the United States.

Robertson had testified at a House of Commons committee in early August on the loan to BC Ferries and said he had no role in approving it. He also said the CIB operates at arm’s length from the government, and that he “cannot and will not interfere” in the bank’s business.

Nonetheless, he and Freeland told the committee they’re disappointed with BC Ferries’ decision to choose a state-owned Chinese shipyard to purchase four new electric-diesel ships.

BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez told the same committee hearing that no Canadian shipyard had presented a bid to build ships for BC Ferries due to being at maximum capacity with their involvement in the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

“We chose the proposal that offered the best combination of value, quality, delivery, timelines and protections for our customers throughout the build,” Jimenez said.

Meanwhile, B.C. shipyard Seaspan said it didn’t place a bid because it can’t compete with foreign countries that have lower industry standards and pricing.

Conservatives renewed their call this month for Ottawa to cancel the $1 billion loan to BC Ferries after China imposed new tariffs on Canadian canola.

Matthew Horwood, Paul Rowan Brian, and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.