Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a significant investment of $11.3 billion by the federal government into Quebec’s shipbuilding sector. The funds are earmarked for the construction of six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard, marking the largest shipbuilding contract in the province’s history.
These new vessels will replace the aging heavy and medium icebreakers currently in use by the coast guard, fulfilling a commitment made back in 2019. Carney emphasized the urgency of the project, stating that steel cutting for the first ship will commence next fall, with the initial vessel expected to be delivered in five years and the full fleet operational within a decade.
The Prime Minister highlighted the critical roles these icebreakers will play, operating in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence River during the winter, and in the Arctic during the summer months. The announcement was made in collaboration with Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette at the Chantier Davie shipyard in Lévis, where all six icebreakers will be built.
Fréchette, who is on the brink of a provincial election campaign, lauded the contract as a boon for Lévis, emphasizing its role in safeguarding the province’s economic independence and creating employment opportunities for welders and technicians. Carney estimated that the project will support around 5,000 jobs during the construction phase.
Notably, these icebreakers will be constructed in adherence to the federal government’s “Buy Canadian” procurement policy, utilizing Canadian steel. The announcement coincides with recent trade tensions with the United States, as President Donald Trump has threatened additional tariffs on Canadian industries.
The federal government’s commitment to Davie shipyard began in 2024 with an initial $19.6-million contract under the national shipbuilding strategy to design the new Polar Class 3 icebreakers. As part of a broader fleet renewal initiative, the national shipbuilding strategy aims to oversee the delivery of a total of 88 new vessels for the coast guard by 2045.
