Question Period Note: Polar Icebreaker

The Government of Canada is exploring procurement options for construction of the Polar icebreaker. No decision has been taken.

• The Government of Canada is committed to the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and getting the women and men of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) the equipment they need to do their jobs protecting and serving Canadians
  • The Government is currently exploring options to ensure the Polar icebreaker is built in the most timely and efficient manner
  • On February 28, the Government of Canada issued a Request for Information (RFI), open to all Canadian shipyards, seeking information on domestic shipyard capability and capacity to construct and deliver a Polar-class icebreaker
  • The RFI closed on March 13, 2020 and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has received 4 responses
  • No decision has been taken at this point

If pressed on the Davie National Icebreaker Center:

• The Government of Canada is not involved with the Chantier Davie National Icebreaker Center, and the center is not a part of the NSS

If pressed on procurement practices:

• This approach follows standard procurement practices and the information gathered through this RFI will help the government determine how best to proceed so that the Polar icebreaker is delivered in the most timely and efficient manner

If pressed on Esquimalt Graving Dock:

• There is no intention to use the Esquimalt Graving Dock dry-dock to construct the Polar Icebreaker
• Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards infrastructure was modernized at the outset of the NSS for the construction of the vessels in their work package, which included the Polar Icebreaker at that time
• The Government is currently exploring options to ensure the Polar icebreaker is built in the most timely and efficient manner. No decision has been taken at this point

Vancouver Shipyards’ non-combat package is a challenging program of work, which was made even more challenging by the inclusion of the large, one-off Polar Icebreaker. In 2019, Canada made the decision to substitute the one Polar icebreaker with a long run of 16 Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs). Adding a long production run of up to 16 MPVs will provide Vancouver Shipyards with a longer program horizon than a one-off Polar Icebreaker, helping to break the cycle of short production runs and provide an opportunity to generate greater efficiencies.

On February 28, 2020, the Government of Canada issued a RFI, open to all Canadian shipyards, seeking information on domestic shipyard capability and capacity to construct and deliver a Polar-class icebreaker. The RFI closed on March 13, 2020, and PSPC received 4 responses for evaluation.

On June 9, 2020, Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards and Ontario-based Heddle Shipyards announced they will work together if they are awarded the contract to build the Polar icebreaker.

On September 16, 2020, Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards and Newfoundland-based Genoa Design International announced they will work together on 3D modeling and design services if they are awarded the contract to build the Polar icebreaker.

Another process is also underway to select a third shipyard under the NSS to build 6 Program Icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. Chantier Davie has pre-qualified as part of this process, which was overseen by an independent fairness monitor. The yard is now going through the next steps which will include a third-party assessment of the shipyard’s infrastructure, submission of a formal proposal, and a due diligence process to ensure the shipyard is financially capable of performing the work and making any necessary upgrades to its infrastructure. On July 29, 2020 the final Request for Proposal was sent to Chantier Davie.

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