Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a significant investment of $11.3 billion into Quebec’s shipbuilding sector to construct six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. This deal, labeled the largest shipbuilding contract in the province’s history, aims to replace the coast guard’s outdated heavy and medium icebreakers as pledged in 2019.
Carney emphasized the urgency of the project, stating that construction will commence next fall, with the first vessel scheduled for delivery in five years and the entire fleet operational five years after that. These icebreakers are designated to operate in various regions, including Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence River during winter, and the Arctic in summer.
The announcement was made in collaboration with Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette at the Chantier Davie shipyard in Lévis, where all six icebreakers will be built. Fréchette, gearing up for a provincial election campaign, hailed the agreement as a significant milestone for Lévis, emphasizing the economic benefits and job opportunities it will bring, particularly for welders and technicians.
Carney highlighted that the project will generate 5,000 jobs during the construction phase and emphasized that the vessels will be constructed in line with the federal government’s “Buy Canadian” policy, utilizing Canadian steel. This decision aligns with the government’s commitment to supporting domestic industries.
This development comes amidst recent trade tensions with the United States, with President Donald Trump issuing fresh tariff threats. In 2024, Ottawa initially awarded a $19.6-million contract to Davie under the national shipbuilding strategy to design the new Polar Class 3 icebreakers. The coast guard’s fleet modernization is part of a broader initiative, with the national shipbuilding strategy set to oversee the delivery of 88 new vessels by 2045.
