Federal funding locks in $11 billion icebreaker contract for Quebec shipyard
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Monday that Ottawa will invest $11.3 billion to build six new icebreakers at Chantier Davie in Lévis, creating 5,000 jobs during construction.
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The federal government will pour more than $11 billion into Quebec's shipbuilding industry to build six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard, fulfilling a 2019 commitment to replace aging vessels.
Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement Monday alongside Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette at Chantier Davie in Lévis, calling it the largest shipbuilding contract in the province's history. The new icebreakers will work in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence throughout winter, and the Arctic during summer months.
Carney said the first steel will be cut next fall, with the first ship delivered in five years and the full fleet in service five years after that. The contract will create or maintain jobs during construction. All six ships will be built with Canadian steel under the federal government's "Buy Canadian" procurement policy.
Fréchette, heading into a provincial election campaign, called it a great day for Lévis and said the contract will protect Quebec's economic sovereignty while creating careers for welders and technicians.
The announcement comes days after trade talks with the United States collapsed and President Donald Trump issued threats of new tariffs on Canadian goods. The Coast Guard is undergoing a large fleet renewal, with the national shipbuilding strategy expected to oversee delivery of new vessels in total by 2045.
What is the breakdown of the $11 billion allocation by ship, and what are the delivery dates for each of the six icebreakers?
What are the specifications and operational differences between the new icebreakers and the aging vessels they replace?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much is the federal government investing in this icebreaker contract?
The federal government is investing $11.3 billion to build six new icebreakers at Chantier Davie in Lévis for the Canadian Coast Guard.
When will the first icebreaker be delivered?
The first icebreaker will be delivered in five years from the time steel cutting begins in fall 2026, with the full fleet in service five years after that.
How many jobs will this contract create?
The contract will create or maintain 5,000 jobs during construction at Chantier Davie.
Where will these icebreakers operate?
The six new icebreakers will work in Atlantic Canada and the St. Lawrence throughout winter, and in the Arctic during summer months.
