Post by Retrovision on Jun 26, 2006 13:52:10 GMT -8
Ottawa charts course for 3 new navy ships
Last Updated Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:19:57 EDT
CBC News
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor unveiled a plan Monday to purchase three new supply ships as part of a multibillion-dollar investment in the Canadian military.
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor announces the plan to build three new naval support ships. (CBC)
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor announces the plan
to build three new naval support ships. (CBC)
The total cost of the new 28,000-tonne ships, including an $800-million maintenance contract, is expected to be $2.9 billion.
O'Connor made the announcement on the hangar deck of the navy frigate HMCS St. John's in Halifax.
"These ships are an essential component of our maritime forces," said Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier, who attended Monday's announcement along with Public Works Minister Michael Fortier.
O'Connor called the plan "long overdue" and Fortier pledged that the ships, which will replace older vessels from the 1960s, would be built in Canada.
The first ship is expected to be ready by 2012.
Hillier said the new ships will provide a necessary boost for all of the Canadian military.
"They will allow us to wear the uniform to better serve and defend Canadians," he said.
O'Connor worked as a military-industry lobbyist before he entered politics. At Monday's news conference, he was asked whether he had ever received money from Irving Shipbuilding, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AG, BAE Systems Ltd. or SNC Lavalin ProFac Inc, all of which have expressed interest in the shipbuilding contracts.
"Not for anything related to the navy," replied O'Connor, whose clients once included BAE Systems. "I have no connection with any company."
After making the announcement, O'Connor also said there will be more news on military spending in the coming days. The total for the new spending could be as much as $15 billion.
New trucks, helicopters, planes
The government is expected to unveil a $1.1-billion plan for new army trucks. That promise will be made in Quebec, the CBC's French-language service reported last week.
That same report said an official announcement about helicopters will come on Wednesday in Edmonton. The government is expected put out to tender for 15 new helicopters at a cost of about $4.2 billion.
Finally, on Thursday at CFB Trenton in Ontario, the government is expected to announce a competition worth $4.6 billion to replace Canada's aging fleet of Hercules aircraft, some of which date back to the 1960s.
The Conservatives are also promising to buy at least four C-17 transport planes, which are massive heavy-lift aircraft, at a cost of $3 billion.
Copyright ©2006 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
Last Updated Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:19:57 EDT
CBC News
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor unveiled a plan Monday to purchase three new supply ships as part of a multibillion-dollar investment in the Canadian military.
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor announces the plan to build three new naval support ships. (CBC)
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor announces the plan
to build three new naval support ships. (CBC)
The total cost of the new 28,000-tonne ships, including an $800-million maintenance contract, is expected to be $2.9 billion.
O'Connor made the announcement on the hangar deck of the navy frigate HMCS St. John's in Halifax.
"These ships are an essential component of our maritime forces," said Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier, who attended Monday's announcement along with Public Works Minister Michael Fortier.
O'Connor called the plan "long overdue" and Fortier pledged that the ships, which will replace older vessels from the 1960s, would be built in Canada.
The first ship is expected to be ready by 2012.
Hillier said the new ships will provide a necessary boost for all of the Canadian military.
"They will allow us to wear the uniform to better serve and defend Canadians," he said.
O'Connor worked as a military-industry lobbyist before he entered politics. At Monday's news conference, he was asked whether he had ever received money from Irving Shipbuilding, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AG, BAE Systems Ltd. or SNC Lavalin ProFac Inc, all of which have expressed interest in the shipbuilding contracts.
"Not for anything related to the navy," replied O'Connor, whose clients once included BAE Systems. "I have no connection with any company."
After making the announcement, O'Connor also said there will be more news on military spending in the coming days. The total for the new spending could be as much as $15 billion.
New trucks, helicopters, planes
The government is expected to unveil a $1.1-billion plan for new army trucks. That promise will be made in Quebec, the CBC's French-language service reported last week.
That same report said an official announcement about helicopters will come on Wednesday in Edmonton. The government is expected put out to tender for 15 new helicopters at a cost of about $4.2 billion.
Finally, on Thursday at CFB Trenton in Ontario, the government is expected to announce a competition worth $4.6 billion to replace Canada's aging fleet of Hercules aircraft, some of which date back to the 1960s.
The Conservatives are also promising to buy at least four C-17 transport planes, which are massive heavy-lift aircraft, at a cost of $3 billion.
Copyright ©2006 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
