Question Period Note: Fleet Renewal

• Fleet Renewal efforts remain a key priority to ensure the Canadian Coast Guard can continue supporting the safety and accessibility of Canadian waters. To date, the Coast Guard has taken delivery of three large vessels and 20 small vessels under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, as well as 23 helicopters, and four interim icebreakers.
• Budget 2024 provided over $397 million over five years for the necessary training capacity, seagoing crew, support staff, and provisions to operate the new Canadian Coast Guard vessels that will be delivered over the next 10 years.
• In May 2023, the Government announced further investments of $2.5 billion to fully renew our small vessel fleet, which will generate economic benefits across the country. In total, approximately $37.5 billion in contracts have been awarded under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
• While some projects have suffered from delays, interim measures, such as acquiring four commercial icebreakers and life extensions for existing vessels, are in place to ensure essential services continue until new vessels are delivered.

• Renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet is underway. Funded replacement plans are currently in place for the large vessel fleet, including:
o Three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels, which were all delivered in 2019 and 2020;
o One Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV);
o Two Polar Icebreakers;
o Up to 16 Multi-Purpose Icebreakers (MPI);
o Two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) (Coast Guard variants); and
o Up to six Program Icebreakers (PIB).
• At Vancouver Shipyards (VSY), the OOSV sea trials are expected to commence in spring 2025, with delivery planned for summer 2025. The construction engineering and long-lead items contract awards for the MPI were announced in March 2024, and work under those contracts is underway. On March 7, 2025, Canada awarded a $3.15B build contract to VSY to build a Polar Icebreaker.
• Chantier Davie was formally announced as the third National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) large shipyard, with the signing of an Umbrella Agreement in April 2023. The Ancillary Contract for the Program Icebreakers was awarded to Chantier Davie in March 2024; work on the project has now commenced at the shipyard. Additionally, on March 7, 2025, a $3.25B contract was awarded to Chantier Davie for the acquisition of the PolarMax.
• Steel cutting on the first AOPS took place in August 2023, and the keel laying occurred in July 2024. Steel cutting on the second Coast Guard AOPS occurred in July 2024. As of November 2022, an overall budget of $2.1 billion was approved for the Coast Guard's two AOPS.
• Media attention over the last several years has detailed the increasing costs and ongoing delays with the procurement of the Canadian Coast Guard’s large vessel fleet. The Canadian Coast Guard has been working closely with shipyards and internal stakeholders to manage and address ongoing issues.
• The Canadian Coast Guard is renewing its small fleet. To date, 32 small vessels have been delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard. This includes a total of 20 vessels delivered under the NSS (18 Search and Rescue (SAR) lifeboats, and 2 Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels), as well as 12 vessels pre-dating the NSS (nine Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels and 3 Near-Shore Fishery Research Vessels).
• The final two SAR lifeboats under contract will be built between two small shipyards: Chantier Naval Forillon in Gaspé, Quebec, and Hike Metal Products in Wheatley, Ontario.
• On May 25, 2023, Canada announced an investment valued at $2.5 billion to fund the completion of the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessels fleet for up to 61 vessels. This represents a significant opportunity for regional economic development, as construction contracts will be openly competed amongst Canadian shipyards (excluding the three strategic partner yards) under the NSS.
• Budget 2024 included investments of over $397M over five years for the necessary training capacity, seagoing crew, support staff and provisions to operate the new Canadian Coast Guard vessels that will be delivered over the next 10 years.
• The Canadian Coast Guard completed the renewal of its helicopter fleet with delivery of 16 new light-lift helicopters and seven new medium-lift helicopters. Delivery of a replacement light-lift helicopter (to replace one damaged beyond repair) occurred in December 2024.
• The Canadian Coast Guard continues to implement interim measures and investments in vessel life extension work to ensure continued delivery of critical services until new ships are delivered. This includes:
o A comprehensive Vessel Life Extension program to maintain the current fleet operational as new ships are being built; and
o Acquisition of three interim Medium Icebreakers and one interim Light Icebreaker.

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