By Elbert King Paul, CPA, CA
First pride, then the crash – the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. Proverbs 16:18, The Message
VANCOUVER — “Nobody but David Eby wants this B.C. Election” – “It’s naked opportunism, without the dignity or even gesturing towards subtlety,” reports Kirk Lapointe in The Hub on September 22, 2026.
However, this election presents a critical opportunity for voters to examine the issues highlighted that same day in The Bureau’s report, “Public Safety documents flag intelligence, military base and supply chain risks in BC Ferries China deal.” That report brings necessary attention to Premier Eby’s handling of foreign interference and its impact on British Columbia’s political process.
Firstly, of major relevance is the 2022 Cullen Commission report focused on networks of transnational organized crime and money laundering, networks linked to foreign interference, including election meddling, according to The Bureau's reporting.
Gordon Hoekstra of The Vancouver Sun reported on December 9, 2024, that Premier Eby had delayed or sidelined two of the most significant structural changes requested by Commissioner Austin Cullen:
An Independent Anti-Money Laundering Commissioner: Recommended to act as an independent legislative “czar” to provide strategic oversight, conduct research, and keep the public informed on B.C.’s anti-money laundering mandate.
A Dedicated Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Unit: Recommended to bypass perceived federal enforcement gaps (such as shortfalls within FINTRAC and the RCMP) by introducing a specialized provincial policing unit focused strictly on illicit financial flows.
The conscious avoidance by Premier Eby of implementing the two major recommendations in the Cullen Report is a breach of his duty to the citizens of B.C. and enables foreign interference to undermine our liberal democracy, impacting government transparency and accountability and the rule of law.
Secondly, Premier Eby’s complete failure to protect British Columbians from foreign interference arose when BC Ferries awarded a contract to China’s Weihai Shipyards (CMI Weihai) to build four new Summit-class hybrid-electric vessels. This contract was backed by a $1 billion low-interest loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB). The deal has triggered intense political backlash, including concerns over lobbying, and has caused parliamentary committee investigations.
The federal government’s Public Safety Records Assessment of the controversial BC Ferries contract with a Chinese state-owned shipyard identified potential risks to Canadian supply chains. The assessment flagged the proximity of ferry routes to sensitive military and intelligence infrastructure — including a Signals Intelligence facility in Haida Gwaii and the country’s main naval base in Victoria.
Rob Shaw reported on August 12, 2025, in Business in Vancouver that Davie Shipyard, the oldest and highest-capacity shipyard in the country, located in Quebec, criticized BC Ferries for a flawed procurement process. The company said the contract was tilted from the start to award new ship construction contracts to the government of China. Davie Shipyard stated BC Ferries never gave Canadian builders a real chance at competing for the billion-dollar contract to build four new large ships.
A 2026 report by the Centre for Future Work estimated that the offshore build will result in roughly $1.5 billion in lost Canadian economic activity (GDP) and 10,000 missed job-years. This lost revenue is profoundly disquieting in light of the September 18, 2026, National Post reporting that in his tenure so far, Premier David Eby has presided over the fastest rate of debt accumulation in the province’s history. Total B.C. debt stood at $89.4 billion on Eby’s first day in office and is now projected to reach $180 billion by 2027.
Critics of BC Ferries’ $1.5 billion contract with CMI Weihai question the involvement of Dominic Barton, former McKinsey & Company global managing director and former Canadian Ambassador to China. Mr. Barton helped develop the CIB, resulting in ongoing debates in parliamentary committees over Barton’s corporate influence networks and McKinsey’s advisory ties to Chinese state-owned enterprises. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently appointed Barton to chair the board of Invest in Canada, which connects multinational corporations to opportunities to grow, expand and succeed in Canada.
Section 2(1)(f) of the B.C. Lobbyists Transparency Act excludes communications between the Government of British Columbia and representatives of international governments such as China.
B.C. voters would like to know who was lobbying whom when BC Ferries awarded a $1.5 billion contract to CMI Weihai, which would support state-owned Chinese shipyards tied to Beijing’s industrial-military framework. Premier Eby’s profound lack of government transparency and accountability over lobbying by China, or its proxies, of BC Ferries raises legitimate questions.
The benefits that authentic liberal democracies confer on their citizens are substantial. These include individual rights, separation of powers, economic opportunity and equality, government transparency and accountability, rule of law and self-critique.
Premier Eby’s wilful blindness to the alleged impact of corrupt foreign interference as detailed in the Cullen Report and the secretive process of awarding a $1.5 billion contract to CMI Weihai has resulted in a dysfunctional democracy in B.C.
We are challenged and encouraged by the lyrics of our National Anthem: “O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free!”
Elbert King Paul is a Chartered Accountant and CPA, and a former director and chair of the Audit Committee of the Federal Liberal Agency of Canada (FLAC). He served during the tenures of seven Liberal Party of Canada leaders, including four prime ministers. Paul is also a former partner at a major national accounting firm.
