Analysis: With Canadians struggling financially, Trudeau can safely ignore calls for more military spending

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  July 9, 2020 | Local, Land

  Contract award to supply non-operational clothing and footwear

  From: National Defence News release July 6, 2020 – Ottawa, ON – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces In line with the Government of Canada's commitment to provide the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment and tools they need, Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan announced that Logistik Unicorp Inc. was awarded a contract to provide non-operational clothing and footwear for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The Non-Operational Clothing and Footwear Contract (NOCFC) will provide DND/CAF with clothing, primarily for non-operational and non-combat duties, all managed by one company. For example, these types of clothing and footwear are often worn when members are participating in a parade. The benefits of this type of clothing solution include the ability for people to order items they need online and have it shipped to their door. It also includes quicker turnaround times for product improvements, and a reduced risk of running out of stock. Logistik Unicorp will be required to conform to mandatory Canadian content requirements. This will help ensure that the majority of the manufacturing of clothing and footwear items is done in Canada and aligned with Canadian values. The contract will help to support 4500 jobs in Canada's textile industry. Quotes “From the moment our members wear it for the first time to their last day of service, the uniform is a visible reminder of their commitment to serve Canadians at home and abroad. No matter where they are, our people in uniform promote Canadian values, defend our sovereignty, and protect us from harm. As such, they deserve to be well equipped to do the important work we ask of them; and that starts with the right clothing and footwear, which this contract will provide.” – The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence “This contract ensures that members of the Canadian Armed Forces will receive and utilize the everyday items they need to carry out their important work on behalf of Canadians. The agreement also supports jobs in the Canadian apparel and textile industry.” – The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement “Through this contract, our government will motivate significant economic benefits for Canadians for many years to come. Logistik Unicorp will invest in high-value research and development in areas such as advanced materials, while also investing in skills development and training to strengthen and support Canadian jobs in our apparel, textile and footwear sectors.” – The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Quick facts The NOCFC will supply approximately 1,500 items of clothing for more than 160,000 people. This includes clothing items such as Regular and Reserve Force service dress uniforms, shorts, shirts, hats, shoes, as well as occupation-specific clothing items (such as those for civilian and military firefighters, military police and civilian drivers), and clothing for the Canadian Rangers, Junior Rangers and Cadets. A contract valued at $415 million was awarded to Logistik Unicorp Inc. of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, for an initial 6-year period. It includes options valued at up to $2.7 billion over 20 years. The contract contains an ethical considerations clause that requires the contractor to ensure that work done in Canada or overseas meets ethical standards such as no child or forced labour, reasonable work hours, fair wages and a safe work environment. The Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, including Value Proposition, was applied to the NOCFC request for proposal requirements to leverage economic benefits for Canada equal to the value of the logistics services component of the contract. As a result, the contract will ensure long-term, sustainable support for the Canadian apparel, textile and footwear sectors, through R&D in Key Industrial Capabilities like Advanced Materials, and skills development and training investments to support Canadian workers. The Contractor will be required to conform to mandatory requirements of the Canadian Content Policy, as well as ensuring that the manufacturing of clothing and footwear items continues to be done in Canada, in accordance with modified Rules of Origin for Canadian textiles and apparel. Contacts Floriane Bonneville Press Secretary Office of the Minister of National Defence Tel.: 613-996-3100 Media Relations Department of National Defence Phone: 613-904-3333 Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca Search for related information by keyword: MI Military | National Defence | Canada | National security and defence | general public | news releases Report a problem or mistake on this page Share this page https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2020/07/contract-award-to-supply-non-operational-clothing-and-footwear.html

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  April 20, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

  MTU Maintenance Canada signs CF6-50 and accessory repair contract with Lockheed Martin

  Vancouver, April 11, 2018 – MTU Maintenance Canada and Lockheed Martin have signed two contracts covering the maintenance, repair and overhaul of CF6-50C2 engines as well as accessory repair for the engines. MTU Maintenance Canada is the MTU Maintenance group's center of excellence for engine MRO in military applications in North America. “We are delighted to have signed these agreements with Lockheed Martin and hope this is the start of excellent, long-term cooperation,” said Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer and Member of the Executive Board at MTU Aero Engines. “Our location in Vancouver has extensive experience and a great track record in supporting military programs.” Lockheed Martin's Commercial Engine Solutions operates from ist world-class facility in Montreal, which includes two test cells and the capacity to serve up to 25 engines per month. MTU Maintenance Canada employs a highly skilled team of around 400 employees located at Vancouver airport (YVR). A 130,000 square foot facility, complete with full test cell capacity, services military and commercial customers in V2500, CF6 and CFM56 engine programs. As a center of excellence for the MTU group, MTU Maintenance Canada also specializes in accessories repair, providing LRU management for a wide range of engine types, such as GE90. About MTU Aero Engines MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany's leading engine manufacturer, with core competencies in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames, manufacturing processes and repair techniques. MTU plays a key role in the new engine market through its partnership in many international development, manufacturing and sales programs, to which it contributes its high-tech components. One third of the global fleet of passenger airliners relies on components supplied by MTU. MTU is one of the world's top 5 providers of maintenance services for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. These activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military sector, MTU Aero Engines is the lead industrial partner for almost every type of engine flown by the German armed forces. MTU operates affiliates around the globe; its corporate headquarters are based in Munich, Germany. http://www.mtu.de/news-media/press/latest-press-releases/press-release-detail/mtu-maintenance-canada-signs-cf6-50-and-accessory-repair-contract-with-lockheed-martin/

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  June 16, 2020 | Local, Naval

  Canada to pay $4.1B for Navy support ships in latest cost increase

  The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Canada's national shipbuilding plan was rocked by yet another cost increase on Monday as the federal government revealed it will pay $4.1 billion for two long-overdue support ships for the navy — an increase of $1.5 billion from initial estimates. The revelation came as Ottawa officially awarded a contract for the full construction of the two new Protecteur-class joint support ships to Vancouver's Seaspan shipyards, which has already started work on the first of the vessels. Seaspan was first tapped to build the two ships and several coast guard vessels in 2011, at which point the supply ships were expected to cost $2.6 billion. The figure was later revised to $3.4 billion before another $700 million was added Monday. The first of the support ships was to have been delivered by 2019. The government says it now doesn't expect the first ship before 2023, with the second due in 2025. Seaspan has been under contract to work on some parts of the first ship since June 2018. The Royal Canadian Navy has been without a full-time support ship since 2014 and is currently relying on a converted civilian vessel that is being leased from Quebec's Chantier Davie shipyard to fill the gap. That ship, the MV Asterix, was at the heart of the failed prosecution of retired vice-admiral Mark Norman. The Liberal government was playing down the cost increase to the support ships on Monday, with senior ministers touting the importance of the vessels to the Royal Canadian Navy and the jobs that the project is creating in Vancouver and elsewhere. "These new ships will provide a necessary capability for our Royal Canadian Navy, while providing significant economic benefits and jobs to Canadians, including thousands of jobs created or sustained," Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said in a statement. Yet the cost increase is the latest to hit the shipbuilding plan, which has been plagued by delays and budget increases for years. The plan is intended to recapitalize the majority of Canada's naval and coast guard fleets. The entire plan to buy new warships to replace the navy's frigates and destroyers, several Arctic patrol vessels, a polar icebreaker and four science vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard in addition to the two support ships was pegged in 2011 at $35 billion. The warships alone are now expected to cost at least $65 billion while the rest of the projects have either seen similar budget increases or their budgets are under review. The delivery schedules for the projects have also been pushed back numerous times. Defence analyst David Perry of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute noted the new cost for the support ships is almost exactly how much Parliament's budget watchdog estimated following an analysis in 2013. The Conservative government at the time refuted the parliamentary budget officer's estimate, with then-public works minister Rona Ambrose saying appropriate safeguards had been put into place to protect taxpayers. "There's not a lot of detail in this today so it's hard to do a line by line," Perry said. "But superficially at least, the PBO's report from 2013 — which I recall being pooh-poohed pretty extensively — has held up pretty well." Ottawa has in recent years produced update cost estimates for most of the vessels being built through the federal shipbuilding plan. However, budgets for the polar icebreaker and an offshore science vessel for the coast guard are still under review. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2020. https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/news/canada-to-pay-4-1b-for-navy-support-ships-in-latest-cost-increase-1.24153254