VICTORIA - British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has lashed out at the United States, saying it's trying to impose its own federal purchasing provisions on the construction of a ferry terminal in Canada.
A request for proposals issued by the State of Alaska spells out that the project in the northwest coast community of Prince Rupert, B.C., must built under Buy America provisions, meaning it must use U.S. iron and steel.
Clark says the Americans should not be permitted to invoke their Buy America program in Canada and require the use of the U.S. metals.
She says Canada and British Columbia are free traders and restrictive trade policies should not be tolerated in this country.
Clark says the U.S. actions are not acceptable and the American behaviour is not friendly.
The terminal was part of an agreement in a 50-year lease signed in 2013 between the Prince Rupert Port Authority and the Alaska Department of Highways, which operates the ferry, and its estimated cost is US$15 million.