The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, will welcome Germany’s Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, to Canada for a bilateral meeting.
September 12, 2023 | Local, Security
For decades, national security has been an afterthought for federal governments of all stripes. The problem, say the experts, is that Canadians themselves tend not to take their security seriously — and as a result, neither do the people they elect.
December 29, 2020 | Local, Naval
Murray Brewster · CBC News No matter which way they are going to be sliced, the numbers will be jaw-dropping. The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) is set, early in 2021, to deliver an assessment of the Royal Canadian Navy's long-anticipated frigate replacement program, a review that will give the public perhaps the clearest view yet of the kind of investment taxpayers will be asked to make in the future fleet. A respected former senior defence official, writing in the military magazine Esprit de Corps this fall, took a stab at running the numbers and they are eye-watering, especially in a post-pandemic world. Alan Williams estimated that when construction and lifetime operating and maintenance expenses are included the new fleet of 15 warships could cost between $213 billion and $219 billion. Circulating within the defence community for weeks, his scathing assessment has apparently caught the attention of the House of Commons government operations and estimates committee, which has requested a copy of the research. Between Williams' biting criticism, the budget officer's anticipated take and a planned auditor general review of the national shipbuilding program, the ground is set in 2021 for a major political battle over defence spending, the likes of which haven't been seen in almost a decade. Back to the future The last time that kind of watchdog firepower was assembled, the former Conservative government's plan to buy the F-35 was blown back to the drawing board, where the fighter jet replacement program remained for years. Back then, the fight was all over numbers and transparency and whether former prime minister Stephen Harper's government was levelling with taxpayers, and just as importantly, whether bureaucrats had done enough homework to justify their choice of the stealth fighter. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/navy-frigates-cost-1.5851912
November 9, 2020 | Local, Naval
NEWS PROVIDED BY Public Services and Procurement Canada Nov 06, 2020, 11:46 ET GATINEAU, QC, Nov. 6, 2020 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to providing the members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with safe and effective vessels required to protect Canadian sovereignty, while creating jobs and generating significant economic benefits for communities across Canada. Following an open and competitive process, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract to General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada, from Ottawa, Ontario, for in-service support on 6 Halifax-class combat systems (HCCS). The HCCS are an integral component of the entire fleet of Halifax-class ships and will require in-service support until the arrival of the Canadian Surface Combatants. This initial contract is valued at approximately $182 million (including taxes) over 6 years, and will maintain up to 106 jobs. The Halifax-class frigates monitor and control Canadian waters, defend Canada's sovereignty, facilitate large-scale search and rescue activities, and provide emergency assistance when needed. Introduced into service in the 1990s, the Canadian-built Halifax-class frigates were recently modernized to remain operationally effective and relevant until the Canadian Surface Combatants enter into service. The Canadian Surface Combatants will replace the Halifax-class frigates and the retired Iroquois-class destroyers. With them, the RCN will have modern and capable ships to monitor and defend Canada's waters, to continue to contribute to international naval operations for decades to come and to rapidly deploy credible naval forces worldwide, on short notice. Quotes "The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to continue delivering the modern equipment that the members of the Royal Canadian Navy need when performing their important duty on Canada's waterways. Moreover, this in-service support is another example of how the government helps tomaintain our existing Royal Canadian Navy fleet, while creating jobs, and generating good economic opportunities for businesses and Canadians." The Honourable Anita Anand Minister of Public Services and Procurement "These systems will provide our women and men in uniform with the equipment they need to do the important job we ask of them. The six systems that will be maintained under this contract will help our sailors detect, track, and identify threats to their ship, which will give them greater protection as they conduct their mission in the service of our nation's interests. I am proud to see Canadian companies contributing to our Canadian military excellence at home and abroad." The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan Minister of National Defence "Through this procurement, our Government is supporting economic growth as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. This contract will lead to opportunities for Canadian suppliers, investments in skills development, training and research, and will generate export opportunities for Canadian businesses." The Honourable Navdeep Bains Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Quick facts Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada successfully modernized the RCN's fleet of 12 Halifax class frigates to ensure they continue to meet evolving operational needs. As part of this modernization project, various combat systems onboard the frigates were retrofitted through the Halifax-Class Modernization/Frigate Life Extension Combat System Integration Design and Build contract. These include, but are not limited to, detection and search radars, navigation radars, fire control systems (targeting radars), and target identification systems. The initial contract is valued at approximately $182 million. Its amount may increase over the next 6 years as work progresses, depending on whether more maintenance is required. The total value for up to 12 years will be determined if and when options to extend the contract are exercised. The Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, including the Value Proposition, applies to this procurement. The frigates operate with and integrate into the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and coalitions of allied states in support of international peace and security operations. In July and August 2019, Irving Shipbuilding Inc., Seaspan Victoria Shipyards Limited, and Chantier Davie were each awarded a $500-million contract to carry out maintenance work on the first group of Canada's Halifax-class frigates. Associated links Link to Buy and sell Halifax-class Modernization/Frigate Life Extension Halifax-class frigates: Maintaining Canada's federal fleet of combat vessels Industrial and technological benefits 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-in-service-support-for-halifax-class-combat-systems-844143601.html