WEST COAST SHIPBUILDING & REPAIR FORUM
Representatives from Aboriginal businesses in the BC Aboriginal Business Association (BCABA) were invited to sit in on the West Coast Shipbuilding and Repair Forum on January 21st, 2015, in North Saanich.
Attending on behalf of their respective organizations were John Gowans and Chris Simpson of Chase Office Interiors, Len McElwee of Indigena Solutions, Lorne Mearns of Island Printing Group, Cory Rich of the Industry Council for Aboriginal Business, and Jay Mearns of the First Nations Employment Society.
The forum was chaired by the Executive Director of Engineering at BC Ferries, Mark Collins, and centered largely on a presentation by the Ministry of International Trade (MIT) for British Columbia. In the presentation, MIT’s Kelly Best discussed the results of a preliminary report on the province’s shipbuilding and repair industry.
Key players in the marine sector––ranging from builders like Seaspan and Esquimalt Drydock to engineers, union leaders, consultants, BC Ferries and the coast guard––weighed in on the strengths and weaknesses of the industry, as well as the future of shipbuilding in British Columbia.
The consensus was that despite a dry spell in business over the last two decades, the NSPS contract presents an opportunity for the industry to invest in the kind of infrastructure it needs to compete on the national and international market. Key areas of strength were identified as maritime technology, communication, design and navigation.
Alongside the $11 billion in National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, BC also stands to gain from future LNG investments, BC Ferries fleet renewals, and its reputation for quality assurance and customer service. “We may be expensive,” said Malcolm Barker, VP and General Manager of Seaspan’s Victoria shipyard, “but we are nice people who deliver quality products.”
The industry is looking to government for continued support (in the form of direct contracts and tax incentives), as well as to closer relationships with British Columbian universities and employment training agencies to encourage and usher in a younger workforce. There is also consensus that a single voice in the industry is needed to represent BC internationally, at conferences and trade shows.
The forum concluded with a preliminary commitment from shipyards both small and large to create a unified industry association. There is agreement that the next five years will be vital for the industry, and that subcontractors and infrastructure from all kinds of support businesses, including Aboriginal businesses, will be necessary for the growth and success of what everyone present hopes will be a bourgeoning sector.
‘Get Your Ship Together’ is a Special Project Initiative run by the Industry Council for Aboriginal Business (www.icab.ca) with support from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca).
