--- title: "Report suggests domestic ferry building to counter US tariffs" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/report-suggests-domestic-ferry-building-to-counter-us-tariffs" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/report-suggests-domestic-ferry-building-to-counter-us-tariffs" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/report-suggests-domestic-ferry-building-to-counter-us-tariffs.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/report-suggests-domestic-ferry-building-to-counter-us-tariffs" category: "Business & Economy" published: "2026-09-10T20:46:16.732Z" source_reported: "2026-09-10T20:04:33.000Z" updated: "2026-09-10T20:46:16.732Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 59 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-10T21:45:17.303939+00:00" --- # Report suggests domestic ferry building to counter US tariffs *A new analysis advocates for local shipbuilding to bolster British Columbia's economy.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. One outlet provided a full report; 25 others provided digests, limiting corroboration. - Craft 59 of 100, higher is better. The report is clear and attributes claims to named sources and a report. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is measured and proportionate to the story's content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Building ferries in British Columbia could help the province counter economic impacts from US tariffs, according to a report from the Centre of Future Work. - The report advocates for domestic shipbuilding rather than purchasing vessels from foreign companies. - BC Ferries previously contracted a Chinese government-owned shipyard to build four vessels for at least $1 billion less than other bids. - The report's co-author stated its aim is to guide future economic strategy, not to revisit the past decision to purchase from China. A report suggests that constructing ferries within British Columbia could help the province mitigate economic challenges posed by United States tariffs. The Centre of Future Work, which produced the analysis, recommends domestic shipbuilding as a means to strengthen the provincial and Canadian economies. This recommendation comes more than a year after BC Ferries awarded a contract to a Chinese state-owned shipyard for the construction of four vessels. At the time of the announcement, BC Ferries stated that no Canadian companies had submitted bids, and the Chinese bid was at least $1 billion less than other offers. The decision to contract with the Chinese shipyard generated significant opposition. ## Report's purpose and context Labour economist Jim Stafford, a co-author of the report, indicated that its purpose is to inform future economic planning rather than to re-examine the previous decision to procure ferries from China. He stated that the report aims to highlight the economic potential of the shipbuilding industry through domestic procurement and investment in facilities and labour. Eric McNeely, president of the union representing ferry workers and a member of the coalition that commissioned the report, emphasised the importance of prioritising local procurement for substantial expenditures, such as ferry construction. He argued that the principle of buying local should apply to large government contracts, just as it does to consumer choices. ## Omissions None of the right-rated reports printed below mention the report's finding that building ferries in British Columbia could help the province counter economic impacts from US tariffs. ## Who covered it Shares of the 24 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 58% (14) - Centre: 42% (10) - Right: 0% (0) 2 of 26 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-10T21:45:17.303939+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-10T22:15:21.465Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on the report's central argument that building ferries domestically would aid British Columbia in its economic dealings with the United States. They highlighted the Centre of Future Work's recommendation for local shipbuilding over foreign purchases as a strategy to bolster the provincial and Canadian economies. These reports also noted that the analysis was commissioned by a coalition of unions and industry leaders, and that it was released approximately 15 months after BC Ferries contracted a Chinese government-owned shipyard for four vessels. The previous contract's cost, which was at least $1 billion less than other bids, was also mentioned. The left-rated reports included statements from the report's co-author, Jim Stafford, explaining its focus on future economic strategy, and from ferry workers' union president Eric McNeely, stressing the significance of local procurement for major projects. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports highlighted the report's conclusion that building ferries in British Columbia could help the province navigate economic challenges stemming from United States tariffs. They conveyed the Centre of Future Work's recommendation for domestic shipbuilding as opposed to acquiring vessels from overseas. These reports also mentioned that the analysis was commissioned by a coalition of unions and industry leaders. The previous decision by BC Ferries to contract with a Chinese government-owned shipyard for four vessels, at a cost at least $1 billion lower than other bids, was also noted. The centre-rated reports included comments from labour economist Jim Stafford, who stated the report's aim was to guide future economic strategy, and from ferry workers' union president Eric McNeely, who underscored the importance of local procurement for significant expenditures. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 14 - unknown: 4 - veryHigh: 8 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [iPolitics](https://ipolitics.ca/2026/09/10/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Chek news](https://cheknews.ca/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report-1346803) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Narcity](https://narcity.com/building-ferries-would-torpedo-tariffs-report) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/canada/british-columbia/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report/article_23fa567b-3843-5f07-9f46-cf223b1d90c9.html) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-business/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765307) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765185) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/national-news/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765185) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765185) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Collingwood Today](https://collingwoodtoday.ca/national-news/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765185) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/national-news/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765185) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/09/10/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/09/10/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Bowen Island Undercurrent](https://bowenislandundercurrent.com/the-mix/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765312) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765185) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765185) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Guelph Today](https://guelphtoday.com/national-news/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765185) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/09/10/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report-2) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Loonie Politics](https://looniepolitics.com/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/09/10/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Timmins Today](https://timminstoday.com/national-news/building-ferries-in-bc-would-help-in-battle-against-us-tariffs-report-12765185) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/09/10/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [The Lethbridge Herald](https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/national-news/2026/09/10/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [The Record](https://therecord.com/business/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report/article_ecec6900-056d-568c-a10d-efd79f932549.html) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/business/2026/09/10/building-ferries-in-b-c-would-help-in-battle-against-u-s-tariffs-report) — Building ferries in B.C. would help in battle against U.S. tariffs: report - [Castanet](https://castanet.net/news/BC/630802/Island-rallies-to-call-for-fairer-federal-funding-for-B-C-Ferries) — Island rallies to call for fairer federal funding for B.C. Ferries ## Questions **What is the main recommendation of the report?** The report recommends that ferries be built in British Columbia rather than purchased from foreign shipyards. This domestic approach is suggested as a way to help the province's economy cope with economic pressures from United States tariffs. **Why was the report commissioned?** A coalition of unions and industry leaders commissioned the report. Its aim is to guide future economic strategy by highlighting the benefits of domestic shipbuilding, rather than to re-examine BC Ferries' past decision to contract with a Chinese shipyard. **What was the previous BC Ferries contract?** BC Ferries previously contracted a Chinese government-owned shipyard to build four vessels. This decision was made approximately 15 months before the report's release and was at least $1 billion cheaper than other bids received. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/report-suggests-domestic-ferry-building-to-counter-us-tariffs. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Report suggests domestic ferry building to counter US tariffs", https://mediabias.news/business/report-suggests-domestic-ferry-building-to-counter-us-tariffs