India isn’t even a member of the G-7 …. but Prime Minister Narinder Modi was personally invited to attend by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
That invite came even though the Canadian government has accused Modi’s government of violating Canada’s sovereignty and assassinating Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, BC in June, 2023.
Canada had also been highly critical of India’s brutal handling of farmers’ protests in 2020; Modi himself has been widely condemned for his government’s attacks on the free press.
“With each successive term, Modi’s administration has faced criticism for tightening control over the media and curbing dissenting voices, with instances of journalists and activists facing harassment, intimidation, and even legal action for criticizing the government or expressing views contrary to the official narrative,” according to the Index on Censorship.
“In 2023, both countries expelled members of each other’s diplomatic staff and advised their citizens against traveling to the other; Canada closed three consulates in India. In October 2024, Canada expelled Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, along with five other diplomats. India retaliated with six expulsions of its own,” Wikipedia has noted.
Things did not get better.
“Canadian police accused the Indian diplomats of working with a criminal network led by a notorious imprisoned gangster to target Sikh dissidents in the country. India has rejected the allegations as “ludicrous”, The Guardian reported last October.
The Canadian government stood up for our principles!
Until it realized India will soon become the world’s fourth largest economic power.
“IMF data, however, projects India’s economy to reach $4.187 trillion in 2025, marginally surpassing Japan’s $4.186 trillion,” revealed CNBC in May.
Behind only the US, China and Germany.
So …. “Welcome to Kananaskis, Mr. Modi!!!”
China kidnapped and imprisoned two Canadian businessmen in deplorable prison conditions. for almost three years; China has been found to have repeatedly carried out espionage in Canada; China has targeted and interfered in Canadian elections at every level; and, China has a human rights record that Canadian politicians have lined up in front of the cameras to condemn publicly.
But apparently, to hell with the Uighurs, all the imprisoned journalists, the jailed students, the build up of China’s huge military and mega navy, the building of islands and attempted seizure of parts of the East China Sea, the threats to Taiwan, the punishing bans/tariffs on Canadian goods, including a “100% tariff on Canadian canola oil, canola meal, and peas, as well as a 25% tariff on certain pork, fish, and seafood products.”
BC Ferries has selected China Merchants Industry (CMI) Weihai — a Chinese state-owned shipyard — to build four new hybrid-electric passenger ferries.
“Back in 2021, the NDP government unveiled a “Made-in-B.C.” shipbuilding strategy with great fanfare. They formed a Shipbuilding Advisory Committee, posed for cameras, and promised to rebuild a long-neglected industry. It was supposed to be a turning point, a real investment in local jobs and industrial capacity,” The Georgia Straight reported Saturday.
“Now, many of those same politicians have turned their backs on everything they claimed to support. Not only did they ship the contracts overseas, but, according to Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union, they didn’t even give B.C. shipyards a fair shot. The procurement process was so rushed and restrictive that no local yard could realistically compete. They didn’t lose the bid—they were boxed out.” (You can read the full story here: https://www.straight.com/city-culture/they-promised-shipbuilding-in-bc-then-gave-contract-to-china#.)
Previous BC Ferries have been built in Poland, Germany and Romania … all European allies of Canada, NATO members … and countries with which Canada has said it wants to expand economic ties.
The state-owned Chinese shipyard chosen by BC Ferries builds Chinese military naval vessels … so BC (and Canadian) taxpayers will be funding/subsidizing the construction of warships for President Xi Jinping that could be used to attack Taiwan … and even, one day, British Columbia!
BC’s NDP politicians defend their hypocrisy, saying BC Ferries are a totally independent corporation.
Hogwash!
The BC government owns ALL of BC Ferrie’s “preferred” shares; the Ferries board is stacked with NDP-connected members, appointed by the NDP government; and you can bet your Ferries reservation that when the new vessels are delivered, BC politicians (including the Premier) will be front and center on camera at the christening of the ships, cutting the ribbons across the loading ramps and welcoming the first travellers on board.
So much for principles!
British Columbia and Canada are not Third World nations. We do not need to kow-tow to unprincipled, autocratic, human-relations-busting dictators and autocratic regimes.
But apparently, Xi and Modi know our politicians better than we do … how money talks, and how easily our politicians’ lip service to principles can be bought off.
Harv Oberfeld
(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to new postings on this Blog.)
@ Harv
Bingo! Exactly.
Just who do Eby’s lot represent these days? It isn’t the elderly or the sick. It isn’t the homeless, the poor or the the families struggling to make ends meet.
Again, just who do Eby’s NDP represent? South Asian interests? Land developer/speculator interests?
I get a lot of NDP types apoplectic calling Eby “Trumpian” on Facebook, but when you look at antidemocratic, authoritarian government, the Eby government ranks right up there with Trump and his ilk.
If Rustad’s Conservatives, stop their ritual “self immolation” and deep six the anti-vaxer/anti science crowd, embrace the fact of Global warming and distance themselves from evangelicals, he might reduce the NDP to 2 seats in the next election.
As much as I disagreed with BC Ferries using Germany, then Poland, then Romania as the builders of the last 15 years of BC Ferries ships….
I would pick ANY one of those yards over Communist China.
And the gall of BC Ferries to stand and say the Chinese shipyards were “world class” for their environmental standards and quality control.
Give me a break.
(Response: The BC Ferries fiasco … in terms of principles, planning, scheduling, negotiating and judicious spending of public dollars .. could go down as the Eby government’s most dismal example of fiscal incompetence. Unless they have something else worse to hit us with in the future! Ho)
The big scandal ignored by the legacy corporate media and the CBC (they had it right 35 years ago) is the now $16 billion (the full program including signalling/electrical rehab, cars, switch replacement and more) 21.7 km extension the the Expo and millennium Lines to cater to traffic flows from the B-99 bus route (about 2,000 persons per hour per direction) or, according to TransLink, “less than the current traffic flows on the B-99 for the Surrey/Langley extension.”
The thing is, SkyTrain which is a light metro is now considered obsolete as it has proven to under preform. Notice no one has ever copied Vancouver?
As transit is a motherhood and apple pie issue, the media ignore it.
I’m so tired of the betrayal of duty to serve the people we see at present by the Eby NDP. Such disloyalty to British Columbians is shameful and unnacceptable. And I surely would like to know this. Unless I’m missing something. Do we actually have an opposition. If they are being a functioning opposition then I’m missing something and not being attentive enough.
(Response: Rustad has spoken out against the China deal: https://vancouversun.com/news/criticism-all-sides-bc-ferries-awards-contract-chinese-state-owned-company.) Many others have raised the alarm as well …but is the NDP listening? Or just blindly plunging ahead, unresponsive to much public opinion, as it far too often does. Ho)
Read Sam Cooper’s “the bureau” for many reasons our governments are beholden to the PRC, BC NDP is a complete mess with Visionless Vancouver’s cabal of moronic meddlers.
Spineless is the term which comes to mind regarding the dealings of Canadian elected officials with serial repressively governed nations, prove me wrong.
(Response: I know that, with the Mad Hatter in the White House, Canada needs to expand our outreach to other economies around the world. But surely, we should not sacrifice our values and principles to grovel after China and India ..two countries where critics/opponents are persecuted, arrested and abused … or worse; where journalists are imprisoned and where ethnic minorities are violently suppressed. Ho)
A few weeks ago, you applauded measures being taken to make government projects to move faster, but now you condemn the lack of oversight. This is the consequence of reducing the ability of organizations to object to such projects. Have you now changed your mind on the matter?
(Response: Not at all. Governments should expedite projects HERE IN CANADA that will provide jobs for Canadians (mining, housing, business development and construction, schools, health facilities … and, yes, expansion of shipbuilding ..not just ferries but for our own navy). Not fund all that growth and development in China! As for the BC Ferries’ spin that the vessels are old and they need to move quickly … that’s just a red herring. They knew fifteen years ago, ten years ago and five years ago the vessels were ageing: why wait till now and now they need to rush. Let’s keep it real … when a vessel is approaching 45 years old, another year or two to spend the hundreds of millions of dollars creating jobs and business here won’t make much of a difference to ferry travel, but would e a GREAT boost to Canadian jobs and OUR economy. Ho)!
It’s a shame that the politicians of BC are putting money ahead of principles and not doing enough to support the local economy. It’s no secret that the CCP interfered in the last election, but since it helped the Liberals, the government doesn’t care. We’ve learned that Muslim values are Canadian values, even though it’s no secret much of the Muslim world doesn’t believe Israel even has the right to exist. Well, if we’re just focussed on votes, those comments are understandable.
The Canadian PM said he was the only leader who could stand up to President Trump, but in Alberta, he was too busy smiling and standing in awe of the American president. He couldn’t even speak when President Trump criticized Justin Trudeau for kicking Russia out of the G7. It wasn’t Justin Trudeau but Stephen Harper. Our PM looked incredibly weak, but for the voters who want more immigration, more debt, more climate change hysteria and soft on crime policies, the current government is ideal.
(Response: Frankly, if BC had a Conservative or Liberal provincial government, I would not have been surprised to see them go for cheaper Chinese contracts … and to hell with all that lefty human rights claptrap. BUT NDP???? Where is their former dedication to BC union jobs, potential for major BC youth/indigenous training/employment; cleaner environmental construction practices and all those extra revenues to fund health and social programs?? With BC’s mounting employment challenges, falling credit rating, growing deficits and ballooning debt, David Eby and the current government will go down in history, at every stage as this projects unfolds, as the biggest political hypocrites of this generation. If they don’t step in to reverse BC Ferries’ course on this, people should laugh OUT LOUD whenever any of them start talking about the need to stand up for principles! Ho)
I remember former Premier Vander Zalm criticized the decision of Gordon Campbell’s government to give a contract for new ferries to Germany. Regardless of where we are on the political spectrum, we should aim to create local jobs whenever possible.
What’s odd is that when you build in B.C., much of the cost is immediately returned to the government in the form of income tax. Does this factor into their estimates?
(Response: It should have! Just think of what hundreds of millions of dollars spent here, instead of in China, would do for OUR economy: not just all the facilities/equipment/materials to build those ships, but the jobs, the suppliers, the spin off benefits to other local businesses … and, yes, all the tax revenues that governments at every level would collect to fund pu8blic services! When ferries are 45 years old, keeping them going an extra year or two to replace them wouldn’t really be a big deal. Eby MUST step in and stop this terrible travesty. Ho)
Hi Harvey, good topic! I wrote to my MLA very soon after reading about the ferry deal with China. I think everybody should do so, if they care about dealing with a country that is not above using their mighty financial strength to make deals. Leaving our farmers in the lurch by not buying the crops they supposedly had contracts for.
Although I used to not think much of Eby, I at least thought he had some principles. Now I see, he is just another sleaze-bag politician and all he cares about is himself and his selfish agenda, ie: giving away the Queen Charlottes to the FN without thought for the way it affected the small businesses there, and even just people who lived there and how they were affected, all to massage his ego. Also the way he treats municipal governments regarding zoning and other matters. He is acting like a dictator, and I am sure this deal was brokered by him on his recent trip to Asia.
(Response: Maybe the “working media” should remind Eby and other NDP cabinet members and MLAs they work for the people of BC, not China … and ask them about China’s TERRIBLE human rights abuses, its treatment of the two Michaels and its continuing discrimination against so many Canadian goods/products! Ho)
As for the BC Ferries getting new ferries built China. We all can thank those that voted NDP
But would the Conservatives go to Poland etc rather than local. I think unions kill any chance ferries being built in Canada or BC because of the high wages etc
That’s my thinking anyway….
(Response: Sometimes it is better to pay more to build large things here, because the hundreds or thousands of direct and indirect jobs generate huge spending with local companies, incomes for our workers and tax revenues for government … whereas spending elsewhere helps workers, businesses and government revenues there …not here. Ho)
I’ll up one. So much for loyalty to Canadians and our country. It’s unconscionable and outrageous. There are worse but fitting absolutely words for our politicians and bureaucrats in the NDP for being so disloyal.
(Response: What makes this all the more reprehensible is that Canadians have been responding so well, even willingly to pay extra ourselves to buy Canadian and support BC businesses. Seems most of us have more principles than our politicians! Ho)
Personally I would pay more and I don’t think the costs need to be much more in many areas. Depends on the marketing by business a lot. I’m being more picky as a consumer lately about where the product is made. Yes principals don’t match up with many of our politicians. Definetly not in Ebys lot.
(Response: Remember, money spent in Canada is kind of a gigantic rebate … by supporting OUR economy, instead of China’s. Not to mention just the decency of NOT doing any more business than absolutely essential with such a brutal regime as China under Xi. Ho)
Sadly, my election prediction proved all too true, Carney was the lesser of disappointments, especially after the “Wee P’s” disastrous pressers of late, like the one with his empty coffee cup.
We must face the fact, especially with the abdication of the corporate legacy media, of almost all investigative reporting, simply because they don’t want to offend anyone and curtail their revenue stream, that most news is propaganda.
Canada and BC is corrupt and has been for a very long time and our politcans can be bought and far too easily these days.
Federally we still have the spectre of SNC Lavalin hang over government and most cannot be told simple for the fact all employees sign non disclosed agreements and to break that contract means harsh legal action and black listing. It is for this reason we keep building with the now obsolete SkyTrain as the tentacles of corruption have engulfed most transit planning in BC.
Contrary to popular belief, the big money building SkyTrain is not from the cars, but the guideway. It is the guideway/subway construction is where the big money is as the guideway costs alone for the 16 km Langley extension is now passed the $6 billion mark and the 5.7 km Millennium Line extension (Broadway subway) is now passing the $3.5 billion mark. Chump change for Eby.
Those pesky NDA’s.
Federally government does not want to offend the first nations, South Asians, Muslims and a host of other recent immigrants and minorities, and questionable programs and government handouts continue.
Provincially, Premier David Eby (mini-Trump) has turned the provincial NDP into the reincarnated Vision(less) Vancouver Provincial Party, where the density, density, density program translates to a massive land rush befitting the rich and powerful and leaving those with lesser incomes on the street.
BC Ferries independent -HA! the BC Ferries Board is filled with NDP Hacks including, former finance minister Joy MacPhail and former NDP government bureaucrats Eric Denhoff and Lecia Stewart. The Chinese know how to do business in Canada!
Civic politics is a sewer of corruption and as it is the nursery for higher office for many, the stench of corruption is ignored by provincial politcians.
Canada and BC has the best politcans money can buy!
(Response: Maybe it’s my own naivete, I was not surprised that Carney/Liberals … given the history of their party … would cave to India, when the economic pressures warranted it; but I didn’t think the NDP could be bought off so easily … especially by such a brutal regime as China, that has put Uighurs in concentration camps, killed democracy demonstrators, imprisoned protestors, artists and journalists! Naive, eh!! Ho)
Your right and I think Carney is going cave into a lot more, just because he is locked in to the same old Trudeau variety of selfish interests and incompetence, grand stupidity that continues to kick the interests of Canadians to the curb. Carneys the PM, but Trudeaus disgraceful legacy of hairbrained top beaucrats are running the show. How dare Carney invite thugs and tyrants to Canada and sell out our ferry construction industry to foriegn dictatorships so their worker bees can have the jobs. Its the same old cycle of our disrespectful lying leadership that speak big talk for Canadians but treats them like third class citizens in thier own country. How dare he.
(Response: I wonder if the federal government could/should step in to stop the Ferries sellout of BC/Canada to China on the basis of national security. I heard a military expert on CKNW yesterday warn that China could install a Trojan Horse and trigger it somewhere in the vessels (engine?) that could disable the boats to disrupt Canada’s infrastructure in case of a conflict with Canada. Sound far fetched? Well, remember those pagers and walkie talkies bought by Hezbollah! Ho)
Yes I think your right that the Feds should step in and stop this insane move and sellout. It is indeed in national security interests. It maybe one of those defining moments for a new P.M. that hopefully knows who and what matters most. Eby and BC Ferries haven’t figured that out themselves by the looks of things.
(Response: BC Ferries and BC NDP government say the deal with China has been in the works for five years … very expensive to change now. Too bad the media haven’t pointed out that means BC Ferries and the BC government were dealing with China while the two Michaels were being held illegally and being abused in Chinese prisons! What kind of message did that send to the dictators in China!! Carney should tell BC … cancel the deal … or no federal funding for it! If no Canadian shipyards can do it … go with a European alternative…. who are our allies. Ho)
To bad, but it figures Trudeau sold out his own people and nation.
I have been dealing with politcans for now 40 years with my transit gig and except for a handful and a surprising handful at that, most jump lock step with the party they represent.
I also, as mentioned before, get information from other sources, much of which I cannot say in a public forum.
I can safely say, the NDP today is not the NDP of old, far from it, they are a new-age Vancouver West-side politcal party, full of wealthy arm-chair socialists, who (and this is sad to say) open for business.
I call this new party Vision(less) Vancouver Provincial and they are open for business. Under Eby, a technocrat supreme, the province only cares about metro Vancouver because that is where the elections will be won or lost!
The ferry decision, just tells me that Eby is ignoring Canada’s dire politcal situation and giving his new allies heft contracts for ferries because, well, think about it. Just think how business is done in BC and how the politcal system has neutered the electorate.
The NDP, has never learned from its mistakes. Eby’s NDP or whatever they are, have learned nothing and forgotten nothing and to hell with Canada and BC. This ferry decision is worse than a crime, it is a mistake.
(Response: I took particular note of your remark about today’s BC NDP being being “a new-age Vancouver West-side political party, full of wealthy arm-chair socialists, who (and this is sad to say) open for business.” I’ve written before about that too … recalling the NDP I came to know (and voted for) in Saskatchewan (and the 1970’s, 1980s in BC too) as strongly in favour of the working/middle class party/politicians. Not now. The current set of ideologues sure seem to have pushed blue collar values/interests aside to cater to “minorities” … squeaking wheel activists, First Nations, campus radical left ideologues, anti-Semites, homeless, druggies and crazies. Just ask the businesses/shoppers/visitors along Granville Street, in the Arbutus area! The BC Ferries fiasco shows how the NDP’s actions are falling short of their talk about standing up for principles, protecting BC jobs, supporting Canada’s steel industry etc. Ho)