VANCOUVER -- B.C. Premier Christy Clark is confident at least part of a lucrative federal shipbuilding contract will find its way to this province.

The $35-billion contract could be awarded as early as Wednesday and Clark believes Seaspan Shipyards of North Vancouver will be successful.

Twenty-billion is earmarked for construction of 20 navy warships while a second contract, worth about $8-billion, will build coast guard vessels and supply ships.

Clark held weekend discussions with the prime minister and says she was assured politics will not be a factor when selecting between the B.C. shipyard or two competitors in Nova Scotia and Quebec.

The chief executive officer of Seaspan Shipyards estimates B.C. will reap an economic windfall of about $15-billion if his firm gets the nod.

Jonathan Whitworth says the financial impact of a successful bid would be similar to the province winning the Winter Olympics every two or three years. (CKNW, The Canadian Press)

For more from the Canadian Press scroll down The Tyee's main page or click here.