Building the Canadian Coast Guard fleet of the future: Minister Lebouthillier highlights an investment of nearly $400 million in Budget 2024 Français
SYDNEY, NS, May 30, 2024 /CNW/ - The Canadian Coast Guard plays a critical role in keeping Canada's waters safe, clean and accessible. The Government of Canada is investing in the Canadian Coast Guard's fleet of the future in order to deliver important services to Canadians while ensuring the Canadian Coast Guard has the right people and ships it needs to carry out vital operations.
Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, was at the Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney, Nova Scotia, to highlight funding from Budget 2024 allocated to the Canadian Coast Guard. The College equips personnel with the skills they need to serve Canadians on all coasts. This investment, totaling $397 million over five years, will ensure the Canadian Coast Guard has the necessary training capacity, seagoing personnel, support staff and provisions to operate new vessels to be delivered for the fleet of the future.
Under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada has made significant investments in the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, bringing a modern, versatile approach to program delivery. The new funding announced in Budget 2024 is to operate the future Canadian Coast Guard vessels. It includes recruitment and training of seagoing personnel to crew the new ships, and funding to build robust capacity to support vessel operations.
Budget 2024 also provided $130 million over six years to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, with $20 million ongoing to address marine fuel cost pressures. This funding will help to address the unpredictability and volatility of marine fuel costs.
"Through this strategic investment, the Government of Canada is reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the safety, security and sustainability of our maritime nation for future generations. I am proud to support the Canadian Coast Guard in building its fleet of the future, while creating skilled jobs in our shipbuilding and marine industries across the country."
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard
"This investment underscores the Canadian Coast Guard's dedication to continuously sustain and enhance our excellent marine capabilities. This additional funding will ensure the Canadian Coast Guard has the necessary training capacity and seagoing personnel in the coming years to continue our service to Canadians, support our coastal communities and protect our marine ecosystems."
Mario Pelletier, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard
- To date, three large vessels and 18 small vessels have been delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This includes three Offshore Fishery Science Vessels, 16 Search and Rescue lifeboats and two Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels.
- As of the end of 2023, over $26.5 billion in National Shipbuilding Strategy-related contracts have been awarded to businesses throughout the country. $5.38 billion of this amount is related to contracts for the Canadian Coast Guard.
- The Canadian Coast Guard Fleet
- The National Shipbuilding Strategy
- Start Your Career with the Canadian Coast Guard
SOURCE Canadian Coast Guard
Jérémy Collard, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, [email protected]; Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]
Share this article