Quebec – Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Minister Duclos today announced that Canada has awarded a second NSS contract, valued at $16.47 million (including taxes), to Chantier Davie of Lévis, Québec, to advance work on a Polar-class icebreaker for the CCG. He made the announcement while attending attended Naval Quebec’s Annual Conference, an annual meeting of the Québec Shipbuilding Supply Chain.
As part of its fleet renewal plan, the Canadian Coast Guard is acquiring two polar icebreakers, one to be built by Chantier Davie, with the other icebreaker being built by Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. These ships will enable the CCG to operate in the Canadian Arctic throughout the year to complete missions in support of Indigenous peoples, northern communities, arctic sovereignty, high arctic science research, and to help respond to emergency situations.
Minister Duclos also provided an update on the procurement of up to 12 submarines for the RCN. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of the Department of National Defence (DND), posted a Request for Information (RFI) to gain further information on the procurement, construction, delivery timelines, and operational capabilities of potential suppliers of submarines to Canada.
In addition to the RFI, as part of this procurement process, Canada continues to meet with officials from allied countries, companies and navies in Europe and Asia that currently have or are in the process of building submarines that may meet Canada’s requirements.
As part of his speech, Minister Duclos provided an update on the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact, an enhanced trilateral partnership with Finland and the United States on polar icebreakers and other Arctic and polar capabilities to support the collective economic, climate and national security in the Arctic. Canada, Finland and the United States continue to meet regularly to progress the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a goal of signing before the end of 2024. This partnership will ensure Canadian expertise and capacity can benefit our allies as we all make efforts to protect international rules, norms, and standards to sustain peace and stability in the Arctic and Antarctic regions for generations to come.
(Photo from Public Services and Procurement Canada)
