Prime Minister Mark Carney has disclosed that the federal government will invest $11.3 billion in Quebec’s shipbuilding sector to construct six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. Carney described this as the most substantial shipbuilding agreement in the province’s history. These upcoming vessels will replace the aging heavy and medium icebreakers of the coast guard, meeting a commitment made in 2019.
“We are committed to swift action. The production will commence next autumn, with the initial ship set for delivery in five years, and the entire fleet operational five years thereafter,” Carney stated. These icebreakers will be utilized in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence River during winter, and in the Arctic throughout summer.
The announcement was made at the Chantier Davie shipyard in Lévis, Que., where all six icebreakers will be built. Premier Christine Fréchette, who is entering a provincial election campaign, expressed her delight, emphasizing the positive impact on Lévis. She highlighted that the contract would safeguard the province’s economic independence and generate employment opportunities for professions like welders and technicians.
Carney affirmed that the project would sustain 5,000 jobs during the construction phase. The vessels fall within the federal government’s “Buy Canadian” procurement policy and will be constructed using Canadian steel.
This development follows the breakdown of trade negotiations with the United States and recent tariff threats from President Donald Trump against Canadian industries. In 2024, Ottawa awarded an initial $19.6 million contract to Davie under the national shipbuilding strategy to design the six new Polar Class 3 icebreakers. The Canadian Coast Guard is undergoing a significant fleet modernization, with the national shipbuilding strategy slated to oversee the delivery of 88 new vessels by 2045.