iPolitics By Jolson Lim. Published on Feb 25, 2021 4:53pm An Arctic offshore patrol ship at the Halifax Shipyard in August 2017 (Zane Woodford/Metro)
Canada’s shipbuilding strategy has been slow to deliver new naval and civilian ships, risking Canada’s ability to meet its domestic and international obligations, according to a new report from the auditor general of Canada.
“The delivery of many ships was significantly delayed, and further delays could result in several vessels being retired before new vessels are operational,” wrote Auditor General Karen Hogan in a report released Thursday.
The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Coast Guard have implemented measures to maintain their fleet of ships until new ones are delivered, but “interim capabilities are limited and cannot be extended indefinitely,” Hogan warned.
Ministers Respond to AG’s February 2021 Reports – February 25, 2021
Federal ministers Joyce Murray (digital government), Anita Anand (public services and procurement), Marc Miller (Indigenous services), Diane Lebouthillier (national revenue), and Omar Alghabra (transport) hold a virtual news conference following the release of Auditor General Karen Hogan’s first 2021 reports. Her five performance audit reports looks at the government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, access to safe drinking water in First Nations communities, the Canada Child Benefit, procurements for complex information technology solutions, as well as a follow-up audit on rail safety.
Latest Episodes
HALIFAX Canada’s auditor general has released a report into Ottawa’s national shipbuilding strategy, finding the strategy has been slow to deliver replacement vessels for the country’s aging Navy and Coast Guard vessels. Karen Hogan’s audit covered Jan. 1, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2020 – before the pandemic began – and looked at whether the federal government was doing enough to handle continual shipbuilding delays. Her report did not focus on the industry’s role. Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy was officially launched a decade ago, with Irving Shipbuilding selected in 2011 to build 15 Canadian surface combatants. But work on those vessels has yet to begin, with delivery of the first not expected until 2030.