Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a significant investment of $11.3 billion by the federal government into Quebec’s shipbuilding sector to construct six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. Carney described it as the most extensive shipbuilding agreement in the province’s history.

These new vessels will replace the outdated heavy and medium icebreakers currently in use by the coast guard, fulfilling a commitment made in 2019. Carney emphasized a swift timeline for the project, with steel cutting scheduled to commence next fall, the initial ship delivery in five years, and the entire fleet operational within an additional five years.

The icebreakers are intended for operations in various regions, including Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence River during winter, and the Arctic during summer. The announcement was made in collaboration with Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette at the Chantier Davie shipyard in Lévis, where all six ships will be built.

Fréchette, gearing up for a provincial election campaign, hailed the project as a significant boost for Lévis, highlighting its role in safeguarding the province’s economic independence and fostering job opportunities for welders and technicians. Carney estimated that the construction process would create 5,000 jobs.

The procurement of these vessels aligns with the federal government’s “Buy Canadian” policy, ensuring that Canadian steel is utilized in the construction process. This development follows recent trade tensions with the United States, including failed negotiations and renewed tariff threats from President Donald Trump.

In 2024, Ottawa initially awarded a $19.6 million contract to Davie under the national shipbuilding strategy to design the six new Polar Class 3 icebreakers. The Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet modernization is part of a broader initiative, with the national shipbuilding strategy set to oversee the delivery of a total of 88 new vessels by 2045.