Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the federal government will invest $11.3 billion into Quebec’s shipbuilding industry to construct six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. Carney described this as the most significant shipbuilding agreement in the province’s history, aimed at replacing the coast guard’s outdated heavy and medium icebreakers, a commitment made in 2019.
The construction process will be expedited, with the first steel cutting scheduled for next fall. The initial ship is expected to be completed within five years, followed by the full fleet within ten years. These icebreakers will operate in various regions, including Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence River during winter, and the Arctic during summer.
The announcement was made in collaboration with Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette at the Chantier Davie shipyard in Lévis, where all six vessels will be built. Fréchette, gearing up for a provincial election campaign, hailed the agreement as a significant day for Lévis, emphasizing its role in safeguarding the province’s economic independence and fostering employment opportunities for welders and technicians.
Carney highlighted that the project will create 5,000 jobs during the construction phase and aligns with the federal government’s “Buy Canadian” procurement policy, utilizing Canadian steel for the icebreakers. This initiative follows recent trade tensions with the United States, as President Donald Trump threatens new tariffs on Canadian industries.
In 2024, Ottawa initially awarded Davie a $19.6 million contract under the national shipbuilding strategy to design the six new Polar Class 3 icebreakers. The Canadian Coast Guard is undergoing a significant fleet modernization, with the national shipbuilding strategy overseeing the delivery of a total of 88 new vessels by 2045.