Canadian Jewish organizations condemn Colorado attack, call for more action at home
In the wake of another antisemitic attack in the U.S., organizations representing the Canadian Jewish community condemned the incident and renewed their call for governments to take concrete steps to prevent more like it.
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On Sunday in Boulder, Col., eight people were injured, some with serious burns, when 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman allegedly used Molotov cocktails and an improvised flamethrower on a small group of people assembled to raise attention for the remaining 58 Israeli hostages in Gaza.
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Abraham Global Peace Initiative CEO and founder Avi Benlolo said he was saddened by the incident, but 'not surprised.'
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It's the byproduct, he said, of demonstrators becoming 'much more hostile, much more desperate' in an effort to seek attention. And he thinks it's only going to escalate.
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'I think we're going to see more Colorados,' he told National Post Monday.
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In a post to X, B'nai Brith Canada called it 'a cowardly act of hate filled violence' and suggested this and other recent antisemitic attacks 'are emblematic of what happens when radical extremism is allowed to flourish and when hatred is incited without consequence.'
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B'nai Brith Canada stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in Boulder, Colorado. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack.
Targeting a group that was peacefully gathered to call for the release of the hostages is a cowardly act of hate filled…
— B'nai Brith Canada (@bnaibrithcanada) June 1, 2025
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Less than two weeks ago in Washington, D.C., two Israeli Embassy staff members — Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26 — were shot and killed by a gunman who later yelled 'Free Palestine' while being arrested.
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Hamas's infiltration of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 — during which 1,195 people were killed and 251 more were taken hostage — and the Israeli military's response have led to a wave of antisemitic attacks in Western countries, including Canada.
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And while there haven't been any hate crimes resulting in the deaths of Jewish people in Canada, there has been a marked increase in other offences in the 19 months since hostilities began with the terrorist group in Gaza.
In 2023, of the 1,284 hate crimes targeting a religion — a jump of 67 per cent from 2022 — 900 were against Jewish people, that's over 70 per cent of all hate crimes and a 71 per cent increase over the previous year, according to Statistics Canada police-reported hate crime data.
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There were more than four times as many antisemitic hate crimes as the second-most targeted religious minority, Muslims.
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In Toronto, antisemitic hate crime spiked 76 per cent in 2023 over the year prior, with almost 68 of the 146 occurring after October, per the Toronto Police public safety data portal.
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That figure climbed 20.5 per cent in 2024 with 176 reported hate crimes targeting Jewish people, which represented 81 per cent of all religion bias hate offences.
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That includes three shootings at Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School in North York — which was unoccupied at the time — and vandalism at the Kehillat Shaarei Torah synagogue, among other unpublicized incidents.
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In response to Sunday's events, Toronto police said Monday officers would continue to maintain a heightened presence around places of worship, community centres, schools and other faith-based locations as they have since the Washington attack.
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Toronto Star
33 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
The Latest: The National Guard has helped detain US citizens in LA
National Guard troops temporarily detained civilians in the Los Angeles protests over immigration raids, Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman the commander in charge said Wednesday, but they quickly turned them over to law enforcement. So far, about 500 National Guard troops have been trained to accompany agents on immigration operations, said Sherman, a marked shift and escalation of their initial duties of securing federal property during protests. LA Mayor Karen Bass has called the raids in Southern California a White House provocation and urged the Trump administration to stop them. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Here's the latest: Most LA arrests have been for failing to leave the area The Los Angeles Police Department has made nearly 400 arrests and detentions since Saturday in connection to immigration protests. The vast majority of which have been for failing to leave the area in defiance of requests from law enforcement, according to police. There have been a handful of more serious charges including for assault against police officers and for possession of a Molotov cocktail and a gun. Nine police officers have been wounded, most were minor injuries and some were transported to a hospital and released. National Guard troops have temporarily detained civilians in Los Angeles The commander in charge says the civilians were quickly turned over to law enforcement. Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman also said about 500 of the National Guard troops have been trained so far to accompany agents on immigration operations. Photos of guard members providing security for the agents have already been circulated by immigration officials. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Sherman is commander of Task Force 51, which is overseeing the more than 4,000 Guard troops and 700 Marines who have been deployed to Los Angeles to provide security during the protests. 17 people were arrested in Chicago protests Some of those arrested in connection with downtown protests during rush hour Tuesday were charged for vandalism, police say. Four people face felony charges, including for aggravated battery against an officer of the peace. Thousands of people demonstrated in a downtown plaza to call out the Trump administration's immigration operations and his move to dispatch dispatching the military to California. Chicago leaders say the majority of protesters were peaceful and exercising their First Amendment rights. Texas governor refuses to disclose details of his National Guard mobilization plan Speaking at a bill-signing news conference Wednesday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott would not say how many guard members will be used or how. He added only that they will be in 'strategic locations where they can provide the most robust response' if needed. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'There are others outside of this room who would like to know that. And I'm not going to tell them,' Abbott said. Protests are planned in San Antonio on Wednesday night and in other cities around the state this weekend. San Antonio officials have said they didn't ask for the Guard to be sent. 'We want to make sure that what has happened in California does not happen in Texas,' Abbott said. LA could lift its curfew if arrests drop The mayor said an overnight curfew for downtown neighborhoods will remain in effect indefinitely. Bass said officials will consider lifting it if there are fewer arrests Wednesday night. 'What I'm hoping is that Angelenos got the message last night,' she said. How long it will remain in place also depends on the response by the federal government, Bass said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'If there are raids that continue, if there are soldiers marching up and down our streets, I would imagine that the curfew will continue,' she said. City leaders say ICE raids have been happening outside Home Depots and churches 'Maybe we are part of a national experiment about how far to determine the federal government can go in reaching in and taking over power from a governor, power from a local jurisdiction,' Mayor Karen Bass said. Mayors who joined her said immigrants are vital for the economy, including harvesting food for the country. 'We are not criminals. We are hard working people. We came to the United States to work, to better our families,' said South Gate Mayor Maria Davila. Many of the city leaders said raids have been happening outside Home Depots, churches and other businesses. A woman who was nine months pregnant and a man dropping off his granddaughter were among those detained, they said. LA police say they detained over 200 people and two officers were injured The vast majority of people — 203 — were detained for failing to disperse Tuesday, and 17 others for violating the curfew that set in at 8 p.m. over part of Los Angeles, police said in a statement Wednesday. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Police arrested several more people for possessing a firearm, assaulting a police officer and shining a laser at a police 'airship.' Police said they used 'numerous' less lethal munitions to control the crowd. Two officers were injured Tuesday, bringing the total number injured over the past several days of protests to nine. Houston is ready for any protests, mayor says At Wednesday's Houston City Council meeting, Mayor John Whitmire did not specifically mention the possibility of Texas National Guard troops being sent to the nation's fourth-largest city ahead of any protests. City leaders expressed their confidence in the Houston Police Department being able to monitor any protests. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's office says National Guard troops are 'on standby' in Texas in areas where demonstrations are planned. 'We're so prepared,' Whitmire said. 'We have such a great police department, a diverse police department that has so much experience. We have a history of peaceful demonstrations brought about by the faith community, our civic leaders, our political figures. And we're going to continue down that path.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Protests in Chicago have been mostly peaceful, mayor says Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says the city's police have responded appropriately in managing crowds at immigration protests in recent days. The demonstrations have been in response to aggressive immigration arrests in the city and in solidarity with Los Angeles. The largest Chicago gathering was downtown Wednesday when thousands gathered in a downtown plaza and onto surrounding streets during the evening rush hour. There were some incidents of vandalism, and one 66-year-old woman was injured when she was hit by a car. 'The vast majority of protesters remain peaceful and organized,' Johnson said. 2 people charged for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails toward police during LA protests No officers were hit. Both people are charged with possession of an unregistered destructive device, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said at a press conference Wednesday. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'You can make a statement, but you can't throw bombs or Molotov cocktails,' Essayli said. Investigators are combing through FBI videos, body camera footage from law enforcement and other evidence on social media, said Essayli. Authorities expect to charge more people in the coming days and weeks. Department of Homeland Security says 9 people arrested in LA had criminal convictions The U.S. Department of Homeland Security revealed names of nine people arrested by immigration authorities in Los Angeles on Monday and Tuesday with criminal convictions, including one for homicide and burglary and others for drug trafficking and child endangerment. It used those cases to portray violent criminals as its primary targets and accuse political opponents of coddling them. 'How much longer will Governor (Gavin) Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass continue to prioritize these criminal illegal aliens over their own citizens?' said Tricia McLaughlin, a department spokesperson. 'Secretary (Kristi) Noem has a message to the LA rioters: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE will continue to enforce the law and arrest criminal illegal aliens.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Woman injured in Chicago after car strikes protesters Chicago police say a 66-year-old woman was injured when she was struck by a car during downtown protests Tuesday evening. Crowds of demonstrators rallying in solidarity with activists in Los Angeles took over a plaza and some surrounding streets amid rush hour traffic. Video footage shows a car speeding through a roadway where people were standing and were protesting. Police said Wednesday that the injured woman fractured her left arm and was treated at a local hospital. No other injuries were reported. Chicago police say detectives are investigating. No charges have been filed. Jeffries and Schumer defend Newsom The defense of Newsom came as House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer were asked how Newsom should be dealing with Trump. Jeffries said Newsom 'has been doing a tremendous job on behalf of the people of California.' He then used the question to state Democrats believe along with Newsom that anybody who commits violence or destroys property should be held accountable to the full extent of that law. At the same time, people have a right to 'peacefully protest and petition their government.' Schumer said that Trump has been trying to intimidate Newsom. 'He has shown he's not going to be intimidated, and we're all for that,' Schumer said of Newsom. 'All for him and proud that he is refusing to be intimidated by Donald Trump.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW NYPD detains more than 80 people during Tuesday night's protests in Lower Manhattan The protests took place around Foley Square Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. Many in the large crowds, which police estimated at around 2,500 people, shouted out against federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement and waved signs that included 'ICE out of NYC' as they rallied near an ICE facility and federal courthouses. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the vast majority of demonstrators were peaceful. She blamed smaller groups for causing the disorder that required police intervention. Police said they took 86 people into custody, including 52 who were released with criminal court summonses for minor crimes and 34 who were charged with assault, resisting arrest and other crimes. Some protesters clashed with police when they jumped over metal barricades and were wrestled to the ground by officers. Video also showed demonstrators throwing items at law enforcement vehicles. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Marines will not be deployed Wednesday in Los Angeles About 700 Marines are still undergoing civil disturbance training at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in Orange County, California, said Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, head of the task force that's overseeing the deployment of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles. Sherman wouldn't speculate about when the Marines might join the 2,000 or so Guard troops that have been deployed in downtown areas to protect federal buildings during sometimes violent demonstrations against President Trump's immigration crackdown. Another 2,000 Guard troops were expected to mobilize on Thursday, he said during a news conference. Downtown LA bustling after curfew lifted The streets of downtown Los Angeles began bustling with residents walking dogs and commuters clutching coffee cups after the overnight curfew was lifted at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Officials said at least two dozen people were arrested for violating the curfew, but overall they were fewer clashes between police and demonstrators than on previous nights. There were no signs of Marines that were expected to be deployed in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, joining the National Guard troops that are protecting federal buildings and ICE agents making arrests. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Attorneys General coalition condemns the 'unlawful deployment' of National Guard A coalition of 18 Democratic attorneys general on Wednesday condemned the Trump administration for what they called the unlawful deployment of the California National Guard amid the protests in Los Angeles. 'The president's decision to federalize and deploy California's National Guard without the consent of California state leaders is unlawful, unconstitutional, and undemocratic,' the attorneys general said in a statement released by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. They said the Trump administration should be working with local leaders to keep everyone safe, 'not mobilizing the military against the American people.' In their capacity as the chief legal officers of the 18 states, they also expressed support for California Attorney General Rob Bonta's court challenge to Trump's order. 'We oppose any action from this administration that will sow chaos, inflame tensions, and put people's lives at risk — including those of our law-enforcement officers,' they wrote. The statement was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Vermont. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Denver police arrested 17 people during protest against immigration raids The hundreds who marched Tuesday evening down thoroughfares in the city, blocking traffic and chanting, were eventually told to disperse by police. Officers used smoke and pepper balls — similar to paintballs but filled with a substance akin to pepper spray — to control the crowd, the Denver Police Department said in a statement Wednesday. Three people were arrested on assault charges, according to Denver police. Other charges included graffiti, unlawfully throwing projectiles and failing to following the police's orders. Mexican president to discuss Kristi Noem's comments accusing her of inciting violence Claudia Sheinbaum said she would discuss the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary's accusation with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Wednesday as he visits Mexico. She rejected Noem's comments as 'completely false' the day before, publishing a video of her in her morning press briefing calling for Mexicans to act in peace in the Los Angeles protests. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Sheinbaum added more details Wednesday — claiming her opponents had 'completely taken out of context' her previous comments suggesting that Mexicans could protest a tax on remittances proposed by Trump. 'We have never called for a violent demonstration,' she said. 'We are against all violent acts. We've always supported peaceful protests.' San Antonio Mayor says city officials did not ask for the Texas National Guard to be deployed Mayor Ron Nirenberg said city officials did not ask for the Texas National Guard to be deployed to the city ahead of planned protests Wednesday night and Saturday. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's office said Tuesday night that National Guard troops were 'on standby' in areas where demonstrations are planned. That came after police in Austin used chemical irritants to disperse several hundred demonstrators Monday near the state Capitol. Wednesday night's protest in San Antonio are scheduled to be near the Alamo, in the heart of the city's downtown. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said he has not been told by either the governor's office or the guard how many troops would be in the city, where they would be positioned or what they will be doing. The governor's office has not publicly released those details. McManus said the city police are ready to handle any security issues with the demonstration. 'We are prepared for a peaceful demonstration, but we are also prepared if something goes south and it turns violent,' McManus said. Immigrant communities are rattled Immigration raids across Southern California are rattling the area's immigrant communities, even among those in the country legally. More than 100 people have been detained since Friday. In Orange County, a day laborer said he started carrying his green card everywhere. And during a news conference Monday, the family members of detained workers in Los Angeles urged officials to uphold the city and the state of California as places of sanctuary for immigrants. ▶Read more about how the raids are affecting immigrant families Protests over immigration raids pop up across the US with more planned Protests that started in Los Angeles have begun to spread across the country, with more planned into the weekend. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW California National Guard are positioned at the Federal Building on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) From Seattle and Austin to Chicago and Washington, D.C., marchers have chanted slogans, carried signs against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and snarled traffic through downtown avenues and outside federal offices. While many have been peaceful, some have resulted in clashes with law enforcement as officers made arrests and used chemical irritants to disperse crowds Activists are planning more and even larger demonstrations in the coming days, with 'No Kings' events across the country on Saturday to coincide with Trump's planned military parade through Washington. The Trump administration said it would continue its program of raids and deportations despite the protests. 'ICE will continue to enforce the law,' Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted Tuesday on social media. ▶ Read more about some of the other protests across the country Trump says he's open to using Insurrection Act Trump left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, which authorizes the president to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations. It's one of the most extreme emergency powers available to a U.S. president. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We'll see,' he said from the Oval Office. Later the president called protesters 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy' in a speech at Fort Bragg ostensibly to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. Trump has described Los Angeles in dire terms that Bass and Newsom say are nowhere close to the truth. In a public address Tuesday evening, Newsom called Trump's actions the start of an 'assault' on democracy. Newsom warned people against inciting violence, but urged them to stand up to the president's actions. LA police swiftly enforce downtown curfew as protests against Trump's immigration crackdown continue ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Los Angeles police swiftly enforced a downtown curfew, making arrests moments after it took effect, while deploying officers on horseback and using crowd control projectiles to break up a group of hundreds of demonstrators. Members of the National Guard stood watch behind plastic shields, but did not appear to participate in the arrests Tuesday night. Hours later, many of the protesters had dispersed, although sporadic confrontations continued that were much smaller than in previous nights. The demonstrations have been mostly concentrated downtown and the curfew covers a 1-square-mile (2.5-square-kilometer) section that includes an area where protests have occurred since Friday in the sprawling city of 4 million. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom asked a court to put an emergency stop to the military helping federal immigration agents, with some guardsmen now standing in protection around agents as they carried out arrests. He said it would only heighten tensions and promote civil unrest. The judge set a hearing for Thursday, giving the administration several days to continue those activities. ▶ Read more about Tuesday night's protests
Montreal Gazette
an hour ago
- Montreal Gazette
Men arrested in Côte-St-Luc in October charged with possessing incendiary material
By Two men who were arrested in Côte-St-Luc last October after incendiary material was allegedly found in their vehicle have been formally charged, though one remains at large. Abdou Khadre Sene and Artemio Cabrera Pazos were scheduled to appear in a Montreal court Tuesday after they were each charged June 5 with a single count of possession of incendiary material. Quebec's prosecution service said Cabrera Pazos appeared in court and is scheduled to appear again in August. However, Sene did not appear and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The city of Côte-St-Luc said in early October an officer from its Public Security department had spotted suspicious individuals in a vehicle parked outside a synagogue around 2 a.m. and called police. At the time, Montreal police said officers stopped a suspect vehicle nearby and found incendiary material inside. The two occupants of the vehicle were arrested that night and released with a promise to appear. Police and prosecutors declined to comment Wednesday about why it took more than eight months to lay charges. Rabbi Reuben Poupko of the Beth Israel Beth Aaron — where the suspicious vehicle had been parked — said two Molotov cocktails were found outside the synagogue later that morning, during the celebration of the Jewish New Year. 'All of the violence that we've seen in Montreal and beyond, the firebombing of synagogues, the shootings at Jewish schools overnight, the recent attacks in Harrisburg (Pennsylvania); Washington D.C.; Boulder, Col., obviously, is evidence of a climate of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions and for the court to have ever granted these individuals release with a promise was absurd and a dereliction of duty,' Poupko said. Police declined to comment on whether the two men may have been linked to any incendiary devices found outside the synagogue, or whether the investigation remains ongoing, citing the fact that the case is before the court. But police spokeswoman Mélanie Bergeron said in response to a question from The Gazette that nothing suggests the men are linked to a terrorist group. The two men face a maximum sentence of two years less a day and or a fine of $5,000. A search of court records shows Sene faces a series of charges in another case, including receiving a material benefit from human trafficking, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping. Three minors arrested the same night in the neighbouring Côte-Des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-De-Grâce borough, who were also found in a vehicle with incendiary material, have also appeared in court. Prosecutors said one has pleaded guilty to possessing incendiary material and was sentenced to 12 months of probation, including a nine-month curfew, and is banned from possessing incendiary materials, explosive substances, lighters or matches. A sentencing hearing for one of the other two is scheduled to take place this month, with a sentencing hearing for other scheduled for July.
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
BC Ferries deal with Chinese shipyard makes waves in Ottawa
The Spirit of British Columbia leaves the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal in Delta, BC, May, 14, 2025. Photo by RICHARD LAM / PNG OTTAWA — BC Ferries set off a tidal wave of controversy on Tuesday after announcing a major shipbuilding deal with a Chinese state-owned enterprise, with the ripple effects of the decision reaching Ottawa. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Vancouver Island Conservative MP Jeff Kibble raised the issue in Wednesday's question period, accusing the Liberal government of rewarding the provincial carrier for selling out Canada's national interest. 'The Liberals are set to hand over $30 million (in federal subsidies) to BC Ferries while BC Ferries hands over critical jobs, investment and industry to China,' said Kibble. BC Ferries said in a press release that it had awarded China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards (CMI Weihai) a contract to build four new vessels after a 'rigorous' global bidding process. Company CEO Nicolas Jimenez was quoted in the release as saying that CMI Weihai was the 'clear choice' for the contract given, among other factors, its 'proven ability to deliver safe, reliable vessels on dependable timelines.' Kibble blasted BC Ferries in the House of Commons for buying the ships from China instead of a 'proven Canadian shipbuilder' and pressed the Liberal government to tie federal ferry subsidies to buying Canadian-built ships. Liberal Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland said that she shared Kibble's concerns about procurement 'at all levels of government' but wouldn't comment directly on the BC Ferries contract, calling it a provincial matter. One politician who hasn't hesitated to criticize the deal is the provincial minister responsible for BC Ferries. B.C. Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth was quick to distance himself from the decision, saying he was worried about the message it sends in the midst of Chinese economic aggression. 'I do have concerns around procuring services from any country that is actively harming Canada's economy through unfair tariffs or other protectionist trade practices. I have shared these concerns with BC Ferries,' Farnworth told the media. Yet, despite his reservations, he ruled out blocking the BC Ferries-CMI Weihai deal. 'BC Ferries is an independent company responsible for its own operational decisions,' said Farnworth. He added that he was 'disappointed' that the contract didn't include more involvement from Canadian shipyards. BC Ferries' head of fleet renewal, Ed Hooper, told Postmedia that no Canadian shipbuilders bid on the contract won by CMI Weihai.
