Thousands of jobs expected to surface in Halifax with new submarine deal

Canada has signed a submarine contract, which could mean big things for Halifax.

A branch of the Canadian military is expected to grow significantly with the federal government ready to sign a new contract with German submarine builder TKMS.

Delivery of the first four submarines is expected by 2034.

“This is a transformational project for our skilled trades professionals,” says Alison Casey, executive director of the mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades Council.

“I represent 12,000 across the province. It will be these skilled trades men and women that will be building the critical infrastructure for these subs.”

It’s anticipated more than 100,000 jobs will be tied to the deal.

“I think it’s reasonable to expect that there will be very substantial activity here in Halifax for decades as a consequence of this as there will be throughout Atlantic Canada,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday in Halifax while making the announcement aboard HMCS Robert Hampton Gray.

Glooscap First Nation has a strategic partnership with TKMS and Chief Sidney Peters says they are ready to play a role in one of the largest industrial projects in Canadian history.

“Together with our partners, we have built an indigenous-led industrial framework designed to create lasting economic opportunities, strengthen indigenous businesses, and develop the skilled workforce that will help build and sustain Canada’s submarine fleet for decades to come,” a statement from Peters reads.

The submarines will bring an estimated 30-to-50 years of work from the construction of initial infrastructure to long-term maintenance. That means there will be a demand for skilled tradespeople for years.

“We are seeing the pendulum swing from those choosing to go to the university route to those choosing an apprenticeship,” Casey says.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston expects this submarine deal to stimulate the economy in many ways.

“There will be significant investments that flow into Nova Scotia as a result of this announcement today, there’s no question about that,” Houston said. “The prime minister talked about, across the country, almost 100,000 jobs but certainly I think Nova Scotia will get a disproportionate amount of that and it’s across the spectrum. Anything from engineers to technicians to the trades.

“Everything you can imagine is impacted by this.”

In an interview with CTV News Atlantic’s Todd Battis, Houston said Nova Scotia is Canada’s capital of defence.

“When we see defence spending, that’s good for us,” he said. “We’ll get more than our fair share in jobs and opportunities. It means jobs across the spectrum.”

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