March 23, 2024 | Local, Land
Congress passes defense spending bill after months of delays
Congress has passed an $825 billion FY24 defense spending bill, but the plan to get Ukraine military assistance across the finish line remains uncertain.
Government of Canada announces major investment in Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessels fleet
Vancouver, British Columbia - Making sure that members of the Canadian Coast Guard have the equipment they need to keep Canada’s waterways navigable and safe is a key priority for the Government of Canada. That includes the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessels, which play a critical role in our fleet, especially in shallow coastal waters and inland lakes and rivers where larger ships cannot operate.
Today, the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard announced a major investment to fund the completion of the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessels fleet.
The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Public Services and Procurement also took part in the announcement from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, along with Joanne Thompson, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East and Churence Rogers, Member of Parliament for Bonavista—Burin—Trinity. The investment, valued at $2.5 billion, provides for up to 61 small vessels and the ongoing replacement of small craft, barges and work boats with new modern equipment.
This investment will help modernize the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessel fleet, so that they can keep Canadian waterways and Canadians safe, while creating good-paying jobs across Canada.
This investment will complete the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessels fleet and enable the Canadian Coast Guard to acquire up to:
- Six Mid-shore Multi-Mission Vessels;
- One Near-Shore Fishery Research Vessel;
- 16 Specialty Vessels comprised of:
- Two Special NavAids Vessels;
- Four Special Shallow Draft Buoy Tenders
- Four Inshore Science Vessels
- Four Special Enforcement Vessels
- Two Lake Class Vessels;
- Four Air Cushion Vehicles; and
- 34 Cape Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats.
The procurement of these small vessels will provide opportunities for smaller shipyards and suppliers across Canada, supporting good-paying jobs in our marine industry.
The National Shipbuilding Strategy is creating jobs in Canada’s shipbuilding industry and marine sector, and providing Canadian Coast Guard members with the equipment they need to continue their important work. Under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, 16 small vessels including 14 Search and Rescue lifeboats and two Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels have been delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard.
Contracts under the National Shipbuilding Strategy are estimated to have contributed approximately $21.26 billion ($1.93 billion annually) to Canada’s gross domestic product, and created or maintained over 18,000 jobs annually between 2012 and 2022.
Quotes
“This is a critical investment that will help modernize the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessel fleet. We are making sure the Canadian Coast Guard has the equipment it needs to keep Canadians and Canada’s waterways safe, while also creating good-paying jobs across the country.”
The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
“Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the government is providing the members of the Canadian Coast Guard with the ships they need to carry out their important work for Canadians. This significant investment also will create more jobs, generate significant economic benefits and help grow the marine industry throughout Canada.”
The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Public Services and Procurement
Quick facts
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This additional $2.5 billion investment will enable the Canadian Coast Guard to further the renewal of its small vessel fleet through the acquisition of up to 61 small vessels, ensuring the Canadian Coast Guard has the modern equipment it needs to continue to provide vital services to Canadians.
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Small vessels can provide search and rescue services as well as assistance to disabled vessels and support aid to navigation programs.
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To date, under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, 16 small vessels have been delivered to Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard. This includes 14 Search and Rescue lifeboats and two Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels.
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The Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy is a long-term, multi-billion-dollar program focused on renewing the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy fleets to ensure that Canada’s marine agencies have the modern ships they need to fulfill their missions, while revitalizing Canada’s marine industry, creating good middle-class jobs and ensuring economic benefits are realized across the country.
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National Shipbuilding Strategy small vessels construction contracts awarded between 2012 and 2022 are estimated to contribute close to $389.4M ($32.4M annually) to the GDP, and create or maintain 293 jobs annually, through the marine industry and its Canadian suppliers, as well as consumer spending by associated employees.
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January 11, 2021 | Local, Naval
Government of Canada awards contract for inspection, repair and overhaul of service boats
NEWS PROVIDED BY Public Services and Procurement Canada Jan 08, 2021, 14:11 ET GATINEAU, QC, Jan. 8, 2021 /CNW/ - Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada is committed to providing members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with safe and effective vessels required to protect Canadian sovereignty, while creating jobs and generating economic benefits for communities across Canada. Following an open and competitive process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of National Defence, has awarded a $16.5-million contract to Zodiac Hurricane Technologies Inc., from Delta, British Columbia, for inspection, repair and overhaul work, on an as-required basis, on inflatable rubber boats and rigid (hull) inflatable boats. Inflatable boats provide a critical operational capability to all elements of the CAF. They are used to support a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, dive support, fishery patrols, boarding party operations, and the transfer of personnel and equipment. The essential maintenance and support services provided by this contract will ensure the CAF's fleet of inflatable boats remains capable of meeting current and future operational demands. This contract was awarded under the repair, refit and maintenance component of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which provides economic opportunities for shipyards and suppliers across Canada. The contract will help create or maintain up to 23 jobs. Quotes "The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, and we are working hard to ensure that it continues to deliver important benefits for Canada. The strategy continues to provide meaningful opportunities for the Canadian marine industry, generating jobs and opportunities from coast to coast to coast." The Honourable Anita Anand Minister of Public Services and Procurement "The Canadian Armed Forces fleet of inflatable boats increases our reach and effectiveness during a wide range of operations at home and abroad. This contract will provide critical maintenance and support services to ensure our members remain well equipped to do the important job we ask of them, including emergency evacuations and transportation of personnel and equipment, while also investing in Canada's growing marine industry." The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan Minister of National Defence "Canada's growing marine industry plays an important role in protecting Canadians and supporting Canadian workers. This investment, under the Government of Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy, will help the hard-working members of the Canadian Armed Forces do their job, while also creating jobs in Delta." The Honourable Carla Qualtrough Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Quick facts Work under this contract is expected to run from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023, with options to extend the contract up to three years. Work will also include tests and trials, disposal, storage, shipping and transport, as well as field maintenance and engineering support. The scope of work will be on an as-required basis, depending on the condition of the boats throughout their serviceable life. This contract will support the CAF's current fleet of inflatable rubber boats and rigid (hull) inflatable boats, the CAF's future dive boats, the Canadian Army's 12-man assault boats, and the new multi-role boats being acquired by the Royal Canadian Navy. National Defence currently operates a fleet of approximately 1,000 inflatable rubber boats and 260 rigid (hull) inflatable boats. Since the launch of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, approximately $7.95 billion in contracts has been awarded under the repair, refit and maintenance pillar of the strategy. Associated links National Shipbuilding Strategy Royal Canadian Navy Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada For further information: Cecely Roy, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Anita Anand, 343-549-7293, cecely.roy@canada.ca; Media Relations, Public Services and Procurement Canada, 819-420-5501, media@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca Related Links www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-awards-contract-for-inspection-repair-and-overhaul-of-service-boats-841786125.html
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August 9, 2019 | Local, Aerospace
Next phase of Canadian special forces aircraft project to begin soon
DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The next phase of the purchase of new surveillance aircraft for Canadian special forces is expected to begin soon with the request for bids for long-term maintenance of the planes. Canadian special forces will receive three new surveillance aircraft from the U.S. with the planes expected to arrive in 2022. A request for bids from Canadian firms to provide in-service support is to be released by the end of the summer. The purchase of the aircraft has raised questions about why the cost is substantially more than what the U.S. Air Force spends to buy the same or similar aircraft. The three Beechcraft King Air planes, to be based at CFB Trenton in Ontario, will be outfitted with sensors and equipment to intercept cell phone and other electronic transmissions. Canadian special forces and, potentially, other government departments will use them for missions overseas and in Canada. The agreement for the aircraft was finalized on April 26 with the U.S. government. Three aircraft and equipment will be delivered in the spring of 2022, the Canadian Forces noted. The agreement signed with the U.S. government is for $188 million (CAN). The U.S. Air Force lists the cost of the MC-12W surveillance aircraft as $17 million each or around $23 million Canadian. That includes communications/sensors and modification of the aircraft for that equipment. So three aircraft should cost in total about $70 million Canadian. At first it was unclear why Canada was paying more than double what the U.S. spends on the same planes. But the Department of National Defence now says the extra cost includes more powerful engines and a modernized cockpit. “As such, the cost for this new variant of the aircraft is higher than previous models,” the DND added in a statement. Also included in the overall agreement is two years of field service support and a technical data package which will enable the Canadian government to solicit bids from domestic firms to maintain the planes, according to the DND. No breakdown of the various costs was provided. The DND also noted that the initial outlay for the aircraft provides the “greatest benefit to Canada's industrial base.” It pointed out that it consulted with industry and determined buying from the U.S. was the best approach. Canadian industry officials, however, have disputed that claim. Various Canadian firms responded to the federal government's initial request for information in August 2013, highlighting that they could provide the aircraft needed by the Canadian Forces as well as integrate whatever equipment was selected or required by Canadian special forces. But the procurement was changed to have the aircraft purchased directly from the U.S. government and using U.S. firms. Attempts by Canadian companies to get an explanation about the change in direction were rebuffed, industry officials say. But the DND says Canadian firms will be providing the maintenance support for the aircraft. The federal government will solicit bids for the in-service support contract which will have the potential to cover a 23-year period. “The value of potential maintenance contracts is not yet known,” according to the DND. A draft request for proposals for the in-service support portion has been released with a final RFP expected sometime in the summer. No specific date was provided. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/next-phase-of-canadian-special-forces-aircraft-project-soon-to-begin