Nouvelles

David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen The Defence department has acknowledged the government's choice for a $60-billion warship program has a propulsion system that has been plagued by problems, at times shutting down entirely while at sea. But the department says it is confident the Type 26 ship, designed by the British firm BAE, meets all the requirements necessary for the Royal Canadian Navy's future fleet. The acknowledgement of the problems is contained in a Department of National Defence fact sheet that outlines potential issues with the selection of Lockheed Martin Canada, with its bid of the BAE Type 26 vessel, as the “preferred bidder” for the Canadian Surface Combatant program. That $60-billion CSC program, the largest single government purchase in Canadian history, will see the construction of 15 warships at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax. Among the issues addressed by the DND was an outline of some potential problems with the Type 26 warship. “The British Navy has had serious issues with the propulsion system in their BAE Type 45s, both in the generator — which has caused near-total power failures — and the engines themselves,” the DND document noted. “Given it uses the same propulsion system, will this affect the CSC too?” But in the document, the DND also expressed confidence in the Type 26, adding that a design that didn't meet all the requirements would not have been considered. Until negotiations with the preferred bidder are completed, the DND can't discuss specific elements of the warship design, the department's response pointed out. Over the years, the BAE Type 45 destroyers have been plagued by problems, with the propulsion system conking out during operations and exercises. In March the British government awarded a contract to BAE worth more than $200 million to fix the problems, with the first ship to be overhauled by 2021. But a representative of the Lockheed Martin Canada-BAE team noted in an email to Postmedia that the propulsion system for the Type 26 “is fundamentally different to the Type 45 propulsion system.” “The T26 design therefore offers more propulsion options, both mechanical and electrical, and is underpinned by a greater number of propulsion engines, providing greater redundancy,” the email noted. “We are confident that the Type 26 design is the right solution for the Royal Canadian Navy and meets the requirements for the Canadian Surface Combatant.” Officials with the consortium expressed surprise at the suggestion the Type 45 issues could be linked to the Type 26 design. Negotiations with Lockheed Martin Canada on the surface combatant program have already hit a roadblock after the Canadian International Trade Tribunal ordered the Canadian government on Nov. 27 to postpone the awarding of a contract while it investigates claims the Type 26 doesn't meet the military's needs. That came after Alion, one of the firms that submitted a bid on the CSC project, filed a complaint with the trade tribunal. Alion, a U.S. firm, has also filed a legal challenge in federal court, asking for a judicial review of the decision by Irving and the Canadian government to select Lockheed Martin and the BAE design. Alion argues the Type 26 cannot meet the stated mandatory requirements, including speed, that Canada set out for the new warship and because of that should be disqualified. Alion had offered Canada the Dutch De Zeven Provinciën Air Defence and Command frigate, which the firm says meets all of Canada's requirements. The entry of the BAE Type 26 warship in the competition was controversial. Previously the Liberal government had said only mature existing designs or designs of ships already in service with other navies would be accepted, on the grounds they could be built faster and would be less risky. Unproven designs can face challenges as problems are found once the vessel is in the water and operating. But that criteria was changed and the government and Irving accepted the BAE design, though at the time it existed only on the drawing board. Construction began on the first Type 26 frigate in the summer of 2017 for Britain's Royal Navy, but it has not yet been completed. Company claims about what the Type 26 ship can do, including how fast it can go, are based on simulations or projections. The two other bidders in the Canadian program have ships actually in service with other navies so their capabilities are known. dpugliese@postmedia.com Twitter.com/davidpugliese https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/questions-raised-about-propulsion-system-on-new-canadian-warship-amid-fears-engines-could-conk-out

Bloomberg News, Natalie Obiko Pearson Canada was looking for a way out of a US$13 billion deal to export armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a televised interview Sunday. “We are engaged with the export permits to try and see if there is a way of no longer exporting these vehicles to Saudi Arabia,” Trudeau told CTV on Sunday, without elaborating. Amid growing international outrage over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the government has been reviewing the planned sale of the armored vehicles made by London, Ontario-based General Dynamics Land Systems, a unit of U.S.-based General Dynamics Corp. Trudeau's administration has said it wouldn't issue new export permits during its review of the deal, which was signed by the previous government. The Canadian leader had indicated previously that his government's hands were somewhat tied by the contract, saying it could cost $1 billion to cancel it. “The murder of a journalist is absolutely unacceptable and that's why Canada from the very beginning had been demanding answers and solutions on that,” Trudeau told CTV. https://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/trudeau-says-canada-wants-out-of-saudi-vehicle-export-deal

SIDNEY, BC, le 14 déc. 2018 /CNW/ - Assurer la sécurité de nos océans et de nos eaux est une priorité pour notre gouvernement. Deux nouveaux bateaux de recherche et sauvetage se joignent à la flotte de la Garde côtière canadienne sur la côte ouest, améliorant ainsi les services essentiels de recherche et sauvetage maritimes fournis par la Garde côtière dans la région et contribuant à assurer la sécurité des Canadiens et de nos eaux canadiennes. Le ministre des Pêches, des Océans et de la Garde côtière canadienne, l'honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, était à Sidney(Colombie-Britannique) aujourd'hui pour annoncer l'arrivée des nouveaux bateaux de recherche et sauvetage à redressement automatique et à grand rayon d'action, baptisés le NGCC McIntyre Bay et le NGCC Pachena Bay. La Garde côtière canadienne qualifie officieusement les bateaux de sauvetage de « navires de classe Baie », car chacun porte le nom d'une baie canadienne. Les bateaux mesurent 19 mètres de long, ont une vitesse maximale de 25 nœuds dans des conditions calmes et peuvent naviguer jusqu'à 100 milles marins de la côte. Ils sont considérés comme des navires utilisables par tous les temps, capables de naviguer avec des vents de force ouragan, et ils se redressent d'eux-mêmes s'ils chavirent. Le NGCC McIntyre Bay sera déployé à Prince Rupert (C.-B.) en 2019, et le NGCC Pachena Bay sera déployé à Port Hardy(C.-B.) également en 2019. Les deux nouveaux bateaux de recherche et sauvetage sont les troisième et quatrième des 20 navires de ce type construits dans le cadre de l'Initiative fédérale liée aux infrastructures, du Plan de renouvellement de la flotte et du Plan de protection des océans. La Garde côtière a déjà pris livraison du NGCC Baie de Plaisance, qui sera amarré aux Îles-de-la-Madeleine, et du NGCC Pennant Bay, qui sera amarré au Canada atlantique. Citations « Le gouvernement du Canada continuera à fournir à la Garde côtière canadienne l'équipement dont elle a besoin pour assurer la sécurité des marins et pour protéger le milieu marin. Notre investissement dans ces nouveaux bateaux de recherche et sauvetage de classe Baie améliore les services essentiels de recherche et sauvetage maritimes que nous offrons chaque jour dans les eaux canadiennes, tout en assurant le soutien et la promotion de l'industrie maritime du Canada. » L'honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, ministre des Pêches, des Océans et de la Garde côtière canadienne Faits en bref La Garde côtière canadienne dirige la composante maritime du système fédéral de recherche et sauvetage par la surveillance des cas de détresse et la coordination des interventions en cas d'incident maritime, ainsi qu'en portant secours aux navires désemparés et à ceux qui sont en situation de détresse sur l'eau. L'entreprise Chantier Naval Forillon a obtenu un contrat de 45,8 millions de dollars en juillet 2015 pour la construction de six nouveaux bateaux de sauvetage. L'attribution de ce contrat a donné lieu à la création de 25 nouveaux emplois et au maintien d'environ 35 emplois dans cette entreprise située à Gaspé, au Québec. L'entreprise Hike Metal Products a obtenu un contrat de 43,4 millions de dollars en juillet 2015 pour la construction de six nouveaux bateaux. L'attribution de ce contrat a donné lieu à la création et au maintien de 45 emplois dans cette entreprise située à Wheatley, en Ontario. Le 6 décembre 2018, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada a annoncé des contrats pour la construction de huit nouveaux bateaux de sauvetage, ce qui porte à 20 le nombre total de nouveaux navires pour la Garde côtière. Gr'ce au Plan de protection des océans, le gouvernement du Canada collabore avec les collectivités côtières et autochtones, et les intervenants du secteur maritime pour aider à maintenir la sécurité et la propreté des eaux et des côtes canadiennes aujourd'hui et à l'avenir. Liens connexes Garde côtière canadienne - Recherche et sauvetage Le gouvernement du Canada investira dans 8 bateaux de recherche et sauvetage pour la Garde côtière canadienne Restez branchés Suivez le ministère des Pêches et Océans Canada sur Twitter, Facebook, Instagram et YouTube. Suivez la Garde côtière canadienne sur Twitter, Facebook, Instagram et YouTube. Inscrivez-vous afin de recevoir les communiqués et plus via notre fil RSS. Plus de plus amples informations ou vous inscrire, visitez : http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/rss-fra.htm. SOURCE Pêches et Océans Canada Renseignements : Jocelyn Lubczuk, Attachée de presse, Cabinet du ministre des Pêches, des Océans et de la Garde côtière canadienne, 343-548-7863, Jocelyn.lubczuk@dfo-mpo.gc.ca ; Relations avec les médias, Pêches et Océans Canada, 613-990-7537, Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/la-garde-cotiere-canadienne-recoit-deux-nouveaux-bateaux-de-recherche-et-sauvetage-a-grand-rayon-daction-destines-a-la-cote-ouest-702810802.html

RICHMOND, BC, Dec. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - MDA, a Maxar Technologies company (NYSE: MAXR) (TSX: MAXR), today announced it was awarded four contracts under the Defence Innovation Research Program (DIRP) with a combined total value of CA$3.8 million. The DIRP supports Canada's long-term commitment to respond to the scientific and technological needs of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces. The objective of this latest DIRP initiative is to help to define the technologies and capabilities for future follow-on RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) spacecraft and ground segment exploitation systems. MDA's projects include: Augmenting Canada's Maritime Surveillance Capability with Complementary EO/IR Information Products: MDA will advance how optical satellite data and hyperspectral imagery complements Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data in strategic maritime and coastal surveillance applications. Improving Canada's ability to identify and classify vessels and monitor port and other littoral vessel traffic activities by providing timely information to relevant agencies for threat assessment and action. Persistent Multi-Sensor Land Surveillance and Change Monitoring: MDA seeks to leverage the complementarity of Optical and SAR satellite image stacks to better identify and monitor changes over large areas of land. The expected benefits include more persistent and operational all-weather monitoring capabilities and very high change classification accuracy. To achieve these benefits the project will leverage new technologies such as Deep Learning and exploit the availability of large satellite image archives. The applications are far ranging and are expected to provide actionable intelligence to DND as well as to civil agencies. SAR Big Data Analytics: Petabytes of information-rich RADARSAT data exists in archives. MDA seeks to understand and demonstrate how big data analytics, Deep Learning in particular, can be applied to large archives of SAR imagery to better extract meaningful geospatial information to support actionable decision-making. Complementary EO/IR Payload to RCM: Working with Canadian industry partners, MDA explores the technical readiness and mission value of using Electro-Optical Infrared sensors to strengthen the value of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission follow-on for the surveillance of land, maritime and defence applications at a global scale. By combining, SAR and Electro-Optical Infrared sensors Canada is able to leverage the weather independent observation capabilities of SAR with finer feature discrimination of thermal, hyperspectral, or multispectral sensing for improved day and night global surveillance. "These awards are an exciting opportunity for MDA to explore new synergies of combining Synthetic Aperture Radar with innovative technologies such as optical sensors and Deep Learning," said Mike Greenley, group president of MDA. "The research programs have recently commenced and will continue over the next two years." About MDA MDA is an internationally recognized leader in space robotics, space sensors, satellite payloads, antennas and subsystems, surveillance and intelligence systems, defence and maritime systems, and geospatial radar imagery. MDA's extensive space expertise and heritage translates into mission-critical defence and commercial applications that include multi-platform command, control and surveillance systems, aeronautical information systems, land administration systems and terrestrial robotics. MDA is also a leading supplier of actionable mission-critical information and insights derived from multiple data sources. Founded in 1969, MDA is recognized as one of Canada's most successful technology ventures with locations in Richmond, Ottawa, Brampton, Montreal, Halifax and the United Kingdom. MDA is a Maxar Technologies company (TSX: MAXR; NYSE: MAXR). For more information, visit www.mdacorporation.com. About Maxar Technologies As a global leader of advanced space technology solutions, Maxar Technologies (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates) is at the nexus of the new space economy, developing and sustaining the infrastructure and delivering the information, services, systems that unlock the promise of space for commercial and government markets. As a trusted partner, Maxar Technologies provides vertically integrated capabilities and expertise including satellites, Earth imagery, robotics, geospatial data and analytics to help customers anticipate and address their most complex mission-critical challenges with confidence. With more than 6,500 employees in over 30 global locations, the Maxar Technologies portfolio of commercial space brands includes MDA, SSL, DigitalGlobe and Radiant Solutions. Every day, billions of people rely on Maxar to communicate, share information and data, and deliver insights that Build a Better World. Maxar trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange as MAXR. For more information, visit www.maxar.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements and other information included in this release constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. Statements including words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "plan", "potential", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate" or "expect" and other words, terms and phrases of similar meaning are often intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions, risks and uncertainties, as well as other statements referring to or including forward-looking information included in this release. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this release. As a result, although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk factors and other disclosures about the Company and its business included in the Company's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities, which are available online under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, under the Company's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov or on the Company's website at www.maxar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such forward-looking statements are based upon data available as of the date of this release or other specified date and speak only as of such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release as a result of new information or future events, except as may be required under applicable securities legislation. Contact Wendy Keyzer | MDA Media Contact | 1-604-231-2743 | wendy.keyzer@mdacorporation.com Jason Gursky | Maxar Investor Relations | 1-303-684-2207 | jason.gursky@maxar.com SOURCE Maxar Technologies Ltd. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/maxar-technologies-mda-to-advance-innovative-technologies-under-the-defence-innovation-research-program-702794292.html

by Chris Thatcher When the Department of National Defence (DND) finalizes the statement of work for the CH-149 Cormorant Mid-Life Upgrade (CMLU), Sentient Vision is hoping a visual detection and ranging (ViDAR) optical radar will be among the requirements. The Australian company has partnered with Heli-One, a Vancouver-based subsidiary of CHC Helicopter, to offer a Canadian manufactured version of what it says is a transformational search and rescue technology. “We've coined a phrase: lost at sea, found in seconds. The system we have developed is able to autonomously find people lost at sea in seconds,” Simon Olsen, director of business development, strategy and partnerships, told Skies. “It is truly transformational. It has the unique ability to detect very small things that virtually no other system in the world has.” Where traditional radar struggles to differentiate small objects such as a person or a rubber raft from the waves in most sea states, ViDAR has successfully demonstrated the ability to find almost all objects or persons. “A radar works on being able to have a response back from the object, so the object needs to stand out from the ocean environment,” explained Olsen. “If the object is very small, and especially if it doesn't have a radar cross-section, it can't get a response back. Hence, in most search and rescue environments, when you are looking for people at sea, a rubber raft or even a small canoe . . . we currently use beacons or transponders to get a rough location, and then rely on the Mark 1 eyeball.” That often involves a spotter in an aircraft monitoring about 0.1 nautical miles at a time. “With ViDAR, we can look out two to 2.5 nautical miles from that aircraft and have an almost 100 per cent certainty of finding every person lost at sea immediately,” he said. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has been analyzing options for a life-extension program that would see the CH-149 fleet of 14 search and rescue helicopters remain in service until around 2040. The project secured long-term funding with the release of the Liberal government defence policy in June 2017. And a year later, in April 2018, Public Services and Procurement Canada posted a letter of notification (LoN) outlining its intent to conduct a sole-source negotiation with Leonardo, formerly AgustaWestland, to replace, modify or upgrade current and projected obsolete systems based on the Norwegian AW101-612 All-Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter (NAWSARH) model, which began entering service in December 2017. The LoN also indicated that the government would proceed with a plan to “augment” the current fleet by upgrading as many as seven of nine VH-71 aircraft, variants of the AW101, acquired from the U.S. government in 2011 ostensibly for spare parts. Olsen said the Canadian program presents an opportunity to not only work with a highly regarded Canadian partner, but also to develop and prove a solution that could then be exported to other military and civilian search and rescue programs. “If we have the opportunity to partner with [Team Cormorant] to supply this technology to the Canadian government, we see tremendous export appeal to other markets in which these helicopters operate,” he said of the team led by manufacturer Leonardo Helicopters and in-service support provider, IMP Aerospace & Defence. “We are configuring this to be able to retrofit it to existing aircraft of a similar kind.” The ViDAR hardware consists of a small, lightweight pod that can be mounted to multiple points on an aircraft and is then integrated with the onboard mission system. “We don't want to add any risk or complex technical integration, so we've focused on making it easy to integrate and use,” said Olsen. “Operationally, there is no new mission system, there's no new mapping system. All we do is send a location on a map and a thumbnail image of the object we find in the water. The operator can click that image and it slews the existing sensors they have on the aircraft to investigate that object.” It was still being developed when the Canadian government released the statement of requirements for the fixed-wing search and rescue project, but Olsen said ViDAR could be readily added to the Airbus CC295 when it enters service with the RCAF. Air Force members have seen the system in action and are well aware of the capability, he added. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a “fairly exhaustive” trial in 2016 at which, of the various radars evaluated, “we were the only one that found 100 per cent search and rescue targets in a range of sea states,” he said. The Coast Guard subsequently incorporated it into its Insitu ScanEagle unmanned aerial platforms for counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and off the southern coast. ViDAR is also being employed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Bombardier Challenger 604 jets in a search and rescue capacity. By partnering with Heli-One and CHC Helicopter, which operates an extensive global search and rescue network, Olsen said there is an opportunity to develop a solution with a Canadian stamp on it that the government can take ownership of and help to export. “With the unique relationship between Heli-One and CHC, we clearly see an opportunity to extend this, not just along the path of where the Cormorant goes with Leonardo, but to work with CHC on a range of search and rescue operations they have all around the world.” https://www.skiesmag.com/news/sentient-vision-aims-to-expand-cormorant-search-radar

Canadian Coast Guard adds to its icebreaker fleet for first time in twenty five years LÉVIS, QC, Dec. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Our Canadian waterways play a crucial role in our culture, history, and economy. Keeping these waterways safe and open for business is a priority for the Government of Canada. This is why we are ensuring that the Canadian Coast Guard is properly equipped for the important work it carries out on a daily basis in keeping Canadians and our Canadian waters safe. Today, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, and the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert, Joël Lightbound, announced that the first of the three medium icebreakers recently built by Chantier Davie for the Canadian Coast Guard will be named CCGS CaptainMolly Kool. The expertise and the talent of Chantier Davie workers were in the limelight during that event, which highlighted the first floating of a Coast Guard icebreaker in twenty-five years. The Ministers and the Parliamentary Secretary have seized the opportunity to visit the shipyard and to meet the workers, in order to reiterate the importance of Chantier Davie for the Canadian shipbuilding industry. All three medium icebreakers, recently acquired by the Coast Guard, will undergo refit and conversion work at Chantier Davie in Lévis, Québec, to ensure they comply with Canadian regulatory and Coast Guard operational standards before entering the fleet. The first ship will allow the Coast Guard to provide essential services during the upcoming winter season, while the other two undergo refit projects. The namesake of the icebreaker, Captain Myrtle 'Molly' Kool, was the first woman in North America to become a master mariner. Myrtle Kool, known by everyone as Molly, was born in 1916 in Alma, New Brunswick. In 1937, she was the first woman in North America to become a licensed ship captain, and in 1939, was awarded her coastal master's certificate. CCGS Captain Molly Kool is part of the national Coast Guard fleet which carries out icebreaking duties in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes, and Arctic regions. This icebreaker is the latest Coast Guard asset deployed to help ensure the safety of Canadian waterways and those who rely on them, both for recreational and commercial purposes. Quotes "Today, we are pleased to welcome CCGS Captain Molly Kool into the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. This icebreaker will provide essential support to the shipping industry, while keeping Canadians safe along our waterways. Canadians can be proud of the men and women of our Coast Guard, and the important work they carry out from coast, to coast, to coast." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard "CCGS Captain Molly Kool is a welcome and much needed addition into the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. Congratulations to the skilled workers of Chantier Davie for their excellent work in bringing this ship into service for the upcoming icebreaking season. This project is yet another example of how the National Shipbuilding Strategy is supporting jobs and prosperity in communities across Canada, including here in Quebec." The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility "I am proud to be here with my colleague the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, and my colleague the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert, in order to highlight the excellent work achieved by the Chantier Davie workers on CCGS Captain Molly Kool. The importance of the Chantier Davie for the Canadian shipbuilding industry and for our region's economy is undeniable. The high quality of the refit and conversion work conducted on CCGS Captain Molly Kool is another example of our workers' exceptional know-how. Together, we can consider the future with confidence.." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Quick Facts CCGS Captain Molly Kool measures 93.7 metres in length, and has a beam of 18 metres. It is classified as a medium icebreaker, and can maintain a speed of 3 knots through ice up to 1 metre thick. In addition to icebreaking, the ship will support other Coast Guard programs, such as Search and Rescue and Environmental Response Icebreakers are crucial to Coast Guard services, the safety of mariners, protection of coastal waters, and efficient transport of people and goods through Canada's waterways. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-government-of-canada-reaffirms-its-commitment-to-davie-and-its-workers-702780082.html

Murray Brewster · CBC News The federal government's plan to award to a group of companies led by Lockheed Martin Canada the contract to design and support the construction of the navy's new frigates has been — nominally — put back on track. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has rescinded an order, issued late last month, that prevented the signing of the deal. The decision to reverse course was made Monday after Public Services and Procurement Canada "certified in writing that the ... procurement is urgent and that a delay in awarding the contract would be contrary to the public interest," according to a copy of the ruling. The decision opens the way for the government to finalize the contract, which is still under negotiation. The Lockheed Martin Canada-led team was selected in October as the preferred bidder after a nearly two-year-long competition to select an off-the-shelf design for the 15 new warships that eventually will replace the navy's frigates. One of the competitors, Alion, asked the CITT to investigate the procurement deal, saying the preferred warship design will need substantial changes and doesn't meet the navy's requirements as spelled out in the government tender. The company also has asked the Federal Court in a separate filing for a judicial review of the long-awaited decision. That case is still pending. The federal government hopes to be able to sign a contract this winter. The order to postpone implementing a deal could have had a devastating impact on the $60 billion program, which already has suffered a series of delays. One of the biggest concerns involved an anticipated production slowdown at the go-to shipyard for warship construction, Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax. The federal government is expecting gap of, possibly, 18 months between the completion of the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and the beginning of construction on the new frigates, known as Canadian Surface Combatants. The Liberal government has attempted to mitigate the slowdown by confirming the construction of six Arctic patrol ships. Further delays to the new frigates would have made that worse. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trade-tribunal-puts-frigate-program-back-on-track-1.4941507

OTTAWA, Ontario, and MIRABEL, Quebec, Dec. 13, 2018 – Lockheed Martin Canada and L3 MAS announced today they have joined forces to offer a military aircrew training solution for the Department of National Defence Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) project. The FAcT project will deliver a relevant, flexible, responsive, and effective aircrew training program for military pilots, Air Combat Systems Officers and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators to meet the future requirements of the Canadian Armed Forces. Leveraging Lockheed Martin Corporation's global experience in designing, delivering, and operating full-spectrum training solutions, including those in the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore and Australia, Lockheed Martin Canada is prepared to deliver a Canadian solution to train the next generation of Canadian Armed Forces aircrew. “Lockheed Martin Canada is excited about the opportunity to team with L3 MAS to offer a fully integrated, innovative and low-risk solution for the Royal Canadian Air Force future aircrew training requirements,” said Charles Bouchard, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Canada. “Lockheed Martin is a world leader in providing leading-edge ‘full schoolhouse' aircrew training solutions, and we look forward to working with the Government of Canada to offer the right solution for Canada's next generation of aircrew.” L3 MAS, as the premier In-Service Support (ISS) integrator for the RCAF, will offer its proven fleet management, logistics and maintenance capabilities in support of all training assets to ensure optimum performance, flexibility and value for money for the Government of Canada. “L3 MAS is delighted to team with Lockheed Martin Canada to help deliver an advanced, world-class, integrated training system to future generations of RCAF aircrew,” said Jacques Comtois, vice president and general manager of L3 MAS. “L3 MAS will leverage our proven fleet management and ISS capabilities across many of the RCAF's major fleets to ensure maximum asset availability and best value.” Lockheed Martin was selected as a qualified supplier for the FAcT project in December 2018. The Lockheed Martin Canada-L3 MAS team will be supported by a wide range of Canadian companies. About Lockheed Martin Canada Lockheed Martin Canada, headquartered in Ottawa, is the Canadian-based arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, a global security and aerospace company employing 100,000 people worldwide. Lockheed Martin Canada has been Canada's trusted defence partner for nearly 80 years specializing in the development, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The company employs approximately 1,000 employees at major facilities in Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary, and Victoria, working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence and commercial sectors. About L3 MAS L3 MAS, a division within L3's ISR Systems business segment, is Canada's leading In-Service Support (ISS) integrator. L3 MAS delivers innovative and integrated solutions that span the full spectrum of ISS. This includes fleet management, annual maintenance planning and optimization; Life-Cycle Material Management (LCMM); Integrated Logistics Support (ILS); Electronic Information Environments (EIE); systems engineering; material management; configuration management; publications; and data management. L3 MAS is also known for its design, prototyping, manufacture, repair and overhaul, and certification of aerospace components. The company is headquartered in Mirabel, Quebec, and employs 800 people at operating centres across Canada. To learn more about L3 MAS, please visit the company's website at www.L3T.com/MAS. https://www.lockheedmartin.ca/ca/news/2016/lockheed-martin-canada-and-l3-mas-join-forces-to-pursue-the-roya.html

QUÉBEC, le 7 déc. 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - L'Assemblée nationale du Québec a adopté à l'unanimité une motion soutenant la réforme de la Stratégie nationale de construction navale du gouvernement fédéral. La motion presse le gouvernement fédéral d'adhérer aux recommandations de la Chambre des Communes et du Sénat qui réclament la construction immédiate au Chantier Davie d'un deuxième navire ravitailleur de la classe Resolve ainsi que d'une nouvelle flotte de brise-glaces pour la Garde côtière canadienne. Au cours de l'année 2017, le gouvernement fédéral a passé en revue la Stratégie nationale de construction navale afin de pallier aux lacunes détectées et de comme ncer à livrer des navires pour le Canada de manière rentable et dans les meilleurs délais. Les travailleurs et fournisseurs de l'industrie maritime du Québec attendent maintenant la refonte longuement espérée de cette politique. James Davies, président de Chantier Davie Canada, a déclaré, « Le premier navire ravitailleur de la classe Resolve, Astérix, est utilisé à sa pleine capacité depuis son entrée en service en janvier 2018. Afin de garantir la réussite de la politique de la défense du gouvernement - Protection, Sécurité, Engagement - ainsi que du plan Landmark 2050 de la Marine, nous devons débuter la construction du deuxième navire dès maintenant. Je voudrais également souligner le leadership exemplaire de l'adjoint parlementaire du premier ministre du Québec, M. Donald Martel, dans ce dossier de première importance pour le nouveau gouvernement du Québec ainsi que du député des Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Joël Arseneau, pour avoir appuyé la motion visant l'inclusion du Québec au sein de la Stratégie de construction navale. » Jacques Létourneau, président de la CSN a ajouté, « Le temps a démontré qu'une stratégie de construction navale qui laisse de côté 50 % de la capacité de production canadienne ne sera jamais « nationale » et encore moins couronnée de succès. Sept ans plus tard, aucun navire n'a été livré et des milliards de dollars ont été gaspillés. » Richard Tremblay, vice-président de l'Association des fournisseurs de Chantier Davie Canada, a déclaré, « Le rapport Emerson (2016) est catégorique : les navires de la Marine et de la Garde côtière rouillent plus rapidement qu'ils ne peuvent être remplacés. Même si le gouvernement actuel a hérité de cette stratégie vacillante, il est maintenant responsable de trouver une solution et les 879 fournisseurs québécois de Chantier Davie sont prêts à aider. » NOTE AUX ÉDITEURS : À propos de Davie Davie et Federal Fleet Services font partie du groupe Inocea. Alors que Davie se concentre sur la construction de navires, Federal Fleet s'assure de l'obtention de contrats et de la location des navires. Davie est le plus grand chantier naval et le plus expérimenté du Canada. Il est aussi celui qui dispose de la plus grande capacité de production, c'est-à-dire 50 % de la capacité totale du pays. Au cours des cinq dernières années, Davie a généré plus de 2 milliards de dollars en retombées économiques au Canada et employait jusqu'à tout récemment, directement et indirectement, plus de 3 000 Canadiens, dont plus de 1 400 travaillant au chantier de Lévis, au Québec. Depuis plus d'un siècle, Davie s'occupe de la construction navale et de la réparation de navires au Canada pour chaque classe de b'timent naval majeur. Aujourd'hui, Davie est un chef de file dans le domaine du déglaçage, du GNL et de la technologie de positionnement dynamique, ainsi que de la construction de navires militaires et d'autres navires essentiels. Davie est certifié ISO 9001:2015 en assurance qualité ainsi que ISO 14001:2015 en gestion environnementale. Le premier navire ravitailleur construit par Davie, l'Astérix, a été le premier navire militaire à joindre les rangs de l'Alliance verte, le plus important programme volontaire de certification environnementale pour l'industrie maritime en Amérique du Nord. SOURCE Chantier Davie Canada Inc. Renseignements : Frédérik Boisvert, Vice-président, Affaires publiques, Chantier Davie, Tel : +1-418-455-2759, frederik.boisvert@davie.ca; François L'Écuyer, Directeur des communications de la CSN, Tel : +1-514-949-8973, francois.lecuyer@csn.qc.ca https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/lassemblee-nationale-du-quebec-adopte-a-lunanimite-une-motion-soutenant-la-reforme-de-la-strategie-nationale-de-construction-navale-du-gouvernement-federal-702204121.html