NDDN Committee Report

NDP Supplemental Report on The Readiness of Canada’s Naval Forces

The NDP supports the National Defence Committee report on Royal Canadian Naval and Naval Readiness but wishes to add a few supplementary observations.[1]            

New Democrats wish to highlight the importance of the committee's strong support for the National Shipbuilding Strategy.  We believe that the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) is absolutely critical to the long term success of the Royal Canadian Navy's recapitalization and modernization efforts. The NSS was approved with all-party support during the 41st Parliament as a means to ensure Canada maintains the naval capacity required to defend our sovereignty, meet our international commitments and maintain and enhance our search and rescue capacity.  At the same time the NSS will ensure that a viable and vibrant Canadian shipbuilding industry continues to exist and that it does so without enduring recurring boom and bust cycles.  While two shipyards, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast, won the contracts for the NSS, the strategy is one that benefits the entire country. Sub-contracts have been signed with beneficiaries in all provinces and work has begun that, if cancelled would only further delay getting the ships and equipment the navy needs.

When it was adopted, the NSS was seen as meeting the minimum needs of the RCN. Recent deferrals of capital funding and changes to the number of ships to be built have put in question whether the NSS has now become a "ceiling" rather than a "floor" as originally intended.  For example, the NSS was supposed to have provide three Joint Support Ships.  This number has now been reduced by the Liberal government to two, with the idea of one ship for the east and one for the west. Yet with only two Joint Support Ships one coast or the other will be periodically left without a support ship due to maintenance and training requirements. New Democrats strongly support the committee`s recommendation that three such ships be built.  

There are additional naval capabilities required which were not included within the shipbuilding strategy, including projects like the replacement of the Kingston Class ships.  These additional projects could be accomplished through contracts with other Canadian shipyards so that the two main NSS shipyards can continue focussing on their work under the Shipbuilding strategy. New Democrats will work with our colleagues in Parliament to ensure the Canadian Forces are properly equipped and that Canadian industry is the primary beneficiary from the recapitalization of the Canadian Forces.

New Democrats support providing necessary and reasonable increases to defence spending so that our Forces have the training and equipment they require to do the difficult and dangerous work we ask them to do on our behalf and the support they have earned at the end of their service.  New Democrats recognize that the Canadian Forces have a major role to play in promoting peace throughout the world.  However, if Canada wishes to play a leadership role in promoting a more stable and secure world we must also address the causes of instability and conflict.  For that reason New Democrats believe that there should be equal, dollar for dollar, increases in our international assistance budget to match defence spending increases.  With both a strong military and a robust aid policy Canada can indeed play a leading role in helping build a safer world.