Halifax shipyard celebrates milestone amid surge in National defence spending

An increased federal budget on defence brings hope of more work to the Irving Halifax shipyards.

Spirits were high at the Irving Shipyard in Halifax as workers and naval officials marked a major production milestone and looked ahead to the future of Canada’s Navy.

While construction is set to begin on the next generation of frigates, today’s event was more about celebrating progress.

“It’s also about building the capacity - that we have the ability to do this as a country,” said Kody Blois, parliamentary secretary to the prime minister. “Twenty years ago, we didn’t actually have the skill set.”

The event came just a day after Prime Minister Mark Carney committed Canada to a major military spending target of five per cent of the GDP by 2035.

The commitment represents the most significant increase to Canada’s defence budget since the Second World War and is expected to bring tens of billions in new spending.

“One of our foremost requirements is infrastructure,” said Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy. “So, [we’re] really excited about the investment that we’re making in taking care of our sailors and ensuring that we have the equipment… the facilities… the training facilities… and the maintenance facilities to do the job we need to do.”

For a navy facing growing demands and aging vessels, the additional funding may provide much-needed stability and support.

“My biggest challenge is not the ships coming down the road,” said Vice-Admiral Topshee. “But to ensure [we] have the ships that we have today in the condition [they] need to defend Canadian waters — because it’s clear it’s a much more dangerous and unpredictable world right now.”

The defence spending increase is also expected to drive work for Canadian defence firms, particularly in Atlantic Canada, which is home to many of the country’s key naval and maritime operations.

Former Defence Minister Peter MacKay called the move long overdue.

“We also have very big looming vulnerability in the Canadian Arctic that the Americans and others — other Arctic nations — are aware of, because of Russia’s presence in the Arctic and China’s presence,” MacKay said.

With billions earmarked for defence, shipbuilders and military leader on the East Coast say they are ready to build, repair and recruit — ushering in what could be a new era for Canada’s maritime readiness.

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