Tories talk teamwork to salvage shipbuilding
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MURRAY BREWSTER GATINEAU, QUE. — The Canadian Press
Federal Conservatives gathered the country's shipbuilders and a smattering of defence contractors behind closed doors yesterday, hoping to salvage tens of billions of dollars worth of badly needed navy and Coast Guard vessels.
The two-day conference began with four federal cabinet ministers calling on often cutthroat competitors to work hand-in-glove with the federal government to roll out as many as 50 large-ship projects - worth an estimated $40-billion - over the next 30 years.
The federal government began searching for a different approach to the complex and time-consuming construction process in the wake of the failure of two high-profile projects last year.
Both the National Defence and Fisheries and Oceans departments were sent back to the drawing board on projects involving the construction of three naval joint-supply ships and coast-guard mid-shore patrol boats when bids from the industry came in far over the budget envelope the Conservatives had set aside.
It was an embarrassment, particularly for the navy, which continues to rely on 40-year-old steam-powered supply ships that were to be retired in 2012.
The Coast Guard was equally put out.
"I know that it was frustrating and costly for the companies that bid [and] it was frustrating for us, as it delayed getting much-needed new vessels," said Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, whose department manages the Canadian Coast Guard.
She said she hoped the conference means that everyone involved will work to "get it right."
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Article Link
MURRAY BREWSTER GATINEAU, QUE. — The Canadian Press
Federal Conservatives gathered the country's shipbuilders and a smattering of defence contractors behind closed doors yesterday, hoping to salvage tens of billions of dollars worth of badly needed navy and Coast Guard vessels.
The two-day conference began with four federal cabinet ministers calling on often cutthroat competitors to work hand-in-glove with the federal government to roll out as many as 50 large-ship projects - worth an estimated $40-billion - over the next 30 years.
The federal government began searching for a different approach to the complex and time-consuming construction process in the wake of the failure of two high-profile projects last year.
Both the National Defence and Fisheries and Oceans departments were sent back to the drawing board on projects involving the construction of three naval joint-supply ships and coast-guard mid-shore patrol boats when bids from the industry came in far over the budget envelope the Conservatives had set aside.
It was an embarrassment, particularly for the navy, which continues to rely on 40-year-old steam-powered supply ships that were to be retired in 2012.
The Coast Guard was equally put out.
"I know that it was frustrating and costly for the companies that bid [and] it was frustrating for us, as it delayed getting much-needed new vessels," said Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, whose department manages the Canadian Coast Guard.
She said she hoped the conference means that everyone involved will work to "get it right."
More on link
