Prime Minister Mark Carney has revealed a significant investment of $11.3 billion by the federal government into Quebec’s shipbuilding sector to construct six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. This contract is described by Carney as the largest ever in Quebec’s history.

The upcoming ships will replace the existing heavy and medium icebreakers of the coast guard, in line with a commitment made in 2019. Carney stated that progress will be swift, with steel cutting scheduled for next fall, the initial ship delivery in five years, and the complete fleet operational five years thereafter. These vessels will operate in various regions, including Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence River during winter, and the Arctic during summer.

The announcement was made at the Chantier Davie shipyard in Lévis, Que., with Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette present. Fréchette, gearing up for a provincial election campaign, hailed the day as a significant one for Lévis, emphasizing that the contract will safeguard the province’s economic independence and generate employment opportunities for welders and technicians.

Carney highlighted that the project will support around 5,000 jobs during the construction phase. As per Carney’s office, the icebreakers will be constructed using Canadian steel in adherence to the federal government’s “Buy Canadian” procurement policy.

This development follows the recent breakdown of trade discussions with the United States and escalating tariff threats from President Donald Trump targeting Canadian industries. In 2024, Ottawa awarded an initial $19.6-million contract to Davie under the national shipbuilding strategy for the design of the six new Polar Class 3 icebreakers. The coast guard’s fleet is undergoing a significant renewal process, with the national shipbuilding strategy overseeing the delivery of a total of 88 new vessels by 2045.