Carney announces construction of new icebreakers will begin next year
Construction for six icebreakers is expected to begin in 2027 in Quebec
The federal government announced an $11 billion investment in the Canadian Coast Guard today, with the money to go toward the construction of six new icebreakers. (File photo courtesy of the Canadian Coast Guard))
The federal government announced today it will spend more than $11 billion on the construction of new icebreakers.
Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement Monday at the Chantier Davie shipyard in Lévis, Que., where the construction will happen.
He called it the “largest shipbuilding contract in Québec’s history.”
The money will go toward six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard, which will replace aging heavy and medium icebreakers currently in use. The federal government first promised to replace the vessels in 2019.
The coast guard uses the fleet to open up trade routes and in emergency situations, such as search and rescue. The ships also support scientific missions.
The “highest performing vessels ever built in this country” will also work to assert Canada’s presence in the Arctic, Carney said.
“The sovereignty of a country that has the world’s largest and longest coastline depends on our strength at sea. The coast guard is central to that strength,” he said from Lévis, speaking alongside Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette and Joël Lightbound, the federal minister responsible for public works and procurement.
Construction of the fleet will begin in 2027 in Lévis and create 5,000 jobs, according to a press release. The first ship is expected to be built within five years, with the full fleet to be in service by 2038.
It’s expected to contribute $650 million annually to Canada’s GDP, according to the statement.
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