On Friday, the Commons transport committee met to wring their hands and express their dismay at BC Ferries’ decision to buy new ships from a Chinese firm, and lo, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Chrystia Freeland expressed her dismay. Gregor Robertson expressed his disappointment. The representative of the Canada Infrastructure Bank pointed out that they don’t make any decisions on procurement, and that their loan was secured before that decision was made. And the head of BC Ferries pointed out, once again, that no Canadian shipyard bid on these ships, if they did, it would take them a decade to deliver them (at least), and that the Chinese bid was $1.2 billion cheaper than any of the others.

That of course didn’t stop opposition MPs from doing the performative song and dance. Conservative Dan Albas demanded the government cancel the loan—which the government can’t do because the Infrastructure Bank is arm’s length. And now they want all documents and emails released, which is going to tell them yet again that no Canadian shipyards bid on this contract.

1) This procurement is entirely provincial jurisdiction2) The Infrastructure Bank operates at arm's length and ministers can't cancel any loans it gives3) NO CANADIAN SHIPYARDS BID ON THIS CONTRACT!Is the federal government going to dictate that one of them build these ferries? Seriously?

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-08-05T13:50:03.050Z

Perhaps most galling of all was Bloc MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval wanted an apology from the government and from the Canada Infrastructure Bank because it’s “unacceptable” that the government plans to invest in foreign infrastructure when our own steel industry is facing tariffs from Trump—but the federal government isn’t investing. BC Ferries, a provincial Crown Corporation is, and the loan from the Infrastructure Bank is a fully repayable loan. You would think the Bloc of all people would rather the federal government respect a decision by a provincial body, but apparently that only matters if it’s in Quebec.

— Effin' Birds (@effinbirds.com) 2025-08-04T13:08:04.388Z

In case you missed it:

• My weekend column on the false choice between emissions caps and prosperity, as the costs of climate change are already being felt in significant ways.
• My Loonie Politics Quick Take points out that Poilievre and the Conservatives had a chance to deal with the Longest Ballot nuisances, but chose stupid games instead.
• My column which responds to what was in that weekend CBC story on the “radically overhauled” Senate and the problems with some of the arguments made.
• My long weekend column looks at the current issue with contracts for freelance interpreters in Parliament, and why it’s exacerbating an existing crisis.
• My column asks if it’s time to revive the Economic Council of Canada as we did with the Law Commission, given the uncertain times we live in.

Ukraine Dispatch

Russia claims to have captured another village in the Dniporpetrovsk region. On Monday, Ukraine destroyed one Russian military jet and damaged four others stationed in occupied Crimea. Ukrainian officials say that Indian components have been found in Russian drones. Two days after Ukraine’s parliament voted to restore anti-corruption agencies’ independence, they announced that they had uncovered a major graft scheme involving drone procurements.

https://twitter.com/Denys_Shmyhal/status/1952763302699729187

Good reads:

• Mark Carney was in Kelowna to announce new aid for the forestry sector, and says that he’ll talk to Trump when “it makes sense” to do so.
• While in BC, Carney has toured a naval base, and attended Vancouver Pride.
• Anita Anand and François-Philippe Champagne went to Mexico City to meet with President Sheinbaum about strengthening trade ties in the face of the trade war.
• The Chief Human Resources Officer of the civil service says there are too many assistant deputy ministers, and that her office will “crack down” on the overage.
• Canadian Forces planes airdropped food aid to Gaza, but it’s a drop in the bucket of what’s needed (and airdrops tend to be largely performative).
• There are questions as to whether it’s even possible to spend the full extra $9 billion on defence to meet our NATO target in the next year.
• Canadian company MDA Space has been contracted to outfit existing Royal Canadian Navy destroyers with new aerial drones.
• Canada Post lost the vote on the “final offer” made to its workers, and it remains to be seen what the next steps will be.
• The federal Privacy Commissioner is investigating a cyber-attack and privacy breach of WestJet’s systems.
• Here’s a look at why the old “leader’s courtesy” doesn’t really apply in Poilievre’s by-election in Battle River—Crowfoot.
• Here is a profile of Liberal MP Eric St-Pierre, who practiced in environmental and Aboriginal law before politics.
• Here is a very good analysis of what the court decision on bike lanes in Toronto actually says, and in particular what it says about the Ford government’s lies.
• Mike Moffatt lists ways in which the federal government has the best way of addressing the housing crisis from their particular levers.
• Jennifer Robson looks at Trump’s trade “deals” and sees a pattern emerging where Canada will have to pick a side sooner rather than later.
• Matt Gurney (correctly) points out that Carney seems to be setting a course for status quo rather than transformative change, given what he’s done so far.
• Justin Ling argues that Canada should play a stronger role at the ICJ regarding the Genocide Convention and the situation in Gaza.
• Paul Wells reflects on the current state of the trade war, as well as on the recent remarks by Stephen Harper on dealing with Trump and diversifying trade.
• Wells also talks to Dominic LeBlanc about negotiating with the Americans, and the forthcoming Major Projects Office.
• My column asks if it’s time to revive the Economic Council of Canada as we did with the Law Commission, given the uncertain times we live in.

Odds and ends:

I see the Conservatives are back to pretending that Trump is a rational actor who can be negotiated with. Honest to Zeus, you guys…

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-08-05T22:52:13.263Z

Want more Routine Proceedings? Become a patron and get exclusive new content.