Waiver of tariff fees for imported ships will hurt Canada’s shipbuilding industry

OTTAWA - New Democrat Shipbuilding Critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore) and International Trade Critic Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster) are concerned that the Conservative government’s elimination of the 25% customs tariff on imported ships will hurt Canada’s domestic shipbuilding industry.

“I fear that this decision will lead to the further rationalization of the industry, meaning that only select regional shipyards will remain viable,” said Stoffer. “It is certain to have an effect on local jobs and shipyards.”

“We have the longest coastline in the world and yet the conservatives seem to want to kill jobs in the shipbuilding industry in the same way they killed thousands of jobs in the softwood lumber industry with the softwood sell-out,” said Julian. “This is a reckless and irresponsible decision which can only hurt Canada`s long term interest in maintaining a vibrant and independent capacity for shipbuilding with the high quality job and expert services that it creates.”
Stoffer maintains that by eliminating the 25% import tariff, the Conservatives are turning their backs on an industry that could be further developed to build competitively priced domestic cargo vessels, tankers and ferries.

“Why can’t we follow the lead of the United States and protect our national shipbuilding interests? New Democrats have long advocated for legislation similar to the Jones Act in the United States. The United States also protects their national shipbuilding and marine industry in every free trade agreement the country has signed. Canada should do the same.”