ARCTIC
www.vanguardcanada.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 33
Icebreaker Capacity
The Canadian Coast Guard's icebreaker fleet
plays an essential role in enabling the delivery
of vital fuel, food and cargo to our isolated
Northern communities. However, with an
average age of 35 years, the entire fleet is ap-
proaching end of service life, requiring more
and more repair work, during which the ves-
sels are not reliably available for service.
This situation has many adverse impacts,
up to and including the very survival of
the Northern communities which rely on
the sealift for their supply of goods. But it
also has economic impacts on the North-
ern economy and safety impacts on the
crews of the icebreakers and the vessels
they are escorting.
"In August of 2018, the Government of
Canada announced the purchase of three
medium commercial icebreakers which
will help to ensure continuity of service for
Coast Guard clients and the safe passage
of marine traffic through Canada's water-
ways." These ships will provide an interim
capability for the Canadian Coast Guard,
while replacement vessels are being built
under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
Q Thanks for sharing your insight on
the North with us. In closing, given the
shi from land to people, how will this
benefit Canada as a whole?
It really comes back to the concept of part-
nership. First of all, Inuit are part of our
Canadian "whole", just as are southerners.
Beyond that, they have their own unique
and complementary perspectives, knowl-
edge and skills gained from living and
working in Canada's North. I think Cana-
dians have intuitively understood for some
time that the potential of Canada's North
to all Canadians is great, whether it be to
our enhanced resource wealth, or our na-
tional security, or to our environmental and
cultural heritage. "The true North strong
and free". It's time for us to understand that
potential can only be effectively shaped and
achieved in partnership with the people who
know it and own it.
CCG Interim Icebreakers
(Image courtesy of
Chantier Davie)
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