Ottawa has announced a joint agreement with the United States and Finland to build icebreakers for the Arctic region and expand shipping operations.
Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos announced the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) in a Nov. 13 press release. “As Arctic nations, it’s imperative that Canada, Finland and the United States invest in the production of icebreakers to protect our sovereignty in the North,“ Duclos said in the release. ”The ICE Pact agreement will strengthen shipbuilding in Canada and will be essential in creating and maintaining good middle-class jobs.” The trilateral agreement also involves the sharing of expertise, information and capabilities among the countries.
The pact includes four components, according to
a Nov. 13 joint release from the three countries, including enhanced information exchange between the countries; joint workforce development; engagement with allies and partners; and research and development.“By leveraging our collective expertise and resources, the MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] will facilitate knowledge, information, and resource sharing with shipyards, with the potential to create high-quality manufacturing jobs in the maritime infrastructure industry,” the release said.
Both Canada and the United States have been warned of the need to rebuild their icebreaking fleets, which are used to break the ice to make a path for other ships to follow and allow routes to remain open year-round. In 2016, the Liberal government was told in a report for Transport Canada that the country’s coast guard fleet was falling apart and in need of new ships. In January, the U. S. Coast Guard warned that it needs between eight and 10 new icebreakers to replace an aging fleet.
Both Russia and China have sought geopolitical advantage in the Arctic region and both countries have programs to construct icebreakers to expand their fleets. Beijing has been vocal about its Arctic ambitions, calling China a “near-Arctic” state.
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in the release that the trilateral pact will strengthen Canada’s shipbuilding sector, “while ensuring our nations are better prepared to tackle the unique challenges of the Arctic and polar regions.”
Canada will work with the U.S. and Finland on a joint workforce development program to train workers to build the vessels, the release said. The polar icebreakers will be built at Canadian shipyards under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).
The government estimates the building of the icebreakers will create about 300 jobs per vessel and 2,500 across the marine supply chain.
Canada announced the construction of two new polar icebreakers in May 2021. They are expected to have abilities beyond the country’s current largest icebreaker. The Canadian Coast Guard currently has 18 icebreakers of varying sizes and capabilities, which is the second largest fleet in the world, according to the release.
Canada is building six Arctic and offshore patrol ships for the Royal Canadian Navy, and two for the Canadian Coast Guard in addition to the two announced Nov. 13.
