New revelations have emerged suggesting that Transport Canada had prior knowledge of BC Ferries' contentious decision to purchase four massive vessels from a Chinese shipyard, sparking fierce criticism from former Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland.

In an email exchange obtained by The Globe and Mail, BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez revealed that he had informed Deputy Transport Minister Arun Thangaraj six weeks before the public announcement in June. Jimenez expressed dismay over Freeland's public denunciation of the deal, citing a lack of communication and support from the federal government.

The email, dated April 29, contained concerns over national security and potential controversies surrounding the deal, which involved purchasing ferries from a state-owned shipyard in China. Despite these issues, BC Ferries proceeded with the announcement in early June, asserting that no Canadian companies had submitted bids to fulfill the contract.

Local sentiments ran high as Premier David Eby voiced his dissatisfaction, insisting that ferries should be built within Canada. The political backlash intensified with federal Conservatives demanding government intervention, arguing for the support of domestic shipbuilding.

Freeland responded sharply to BC Ferries, expressing her frustration and disappointment in a letter to B.C. Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth. Meanwhile, senior Liberal advisors had been busy strategizing over a $1-billion loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, intended to fund the acquisition and related infrastructure, even as Freeland publicly distanced the federal government from the deal.

In a follow-up email, Jimenez expressed his concerns regarding Freeland's perceived ignorance of the discussions they had prior to the contract award. He challenged claims that the government was unaware of the purchase and highlighted a parallel funding of similar projects involving the same Chinese shipyard.

As the Commons transport committee has unanimously pushed for the release of documents tied to both the ship purchase and the federal loan, the fallout from this decision continues to ripple through Canadian politics. Jimenez has called for a strategic partnership with the federal government to better support domestic industries.

With Freeland's recent resignation from the cabinet to focus on her new role as Canada's special representative for Ukraine, the handling of the BC Ferries situation has left many questioning the Liberals’ commitment to supporting Canadian industries.

Current Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon's spokesperson reiterated that the federal government played no part in the procurement process, emphasizing the need to prioritize Canadian workers and industries amid this unfolding controversy.