QUESTION PERIOD — National Defence
Military Procurement
June 19, 2025
Senator Gold, the replacement of Canada’s submarine fleet is under way. These submarines will bolster Canada’s ability to deter an assertive China, protect Arctic sovereignty and support NATO maritime defence. The projected cost of procuring up to 12 submarines with advanced capabilities, including stealth, lethality and Arctic deployability, will be around $60 billion over their life cycles. Production timelines are incredibly long for these “inner space craft” before Canada will see a submarine come into service. Never forget that an assertive and aggressive nation has a vote in our timeline.
Senator Gold, are you able to provide an update on the status of the submarine procurement process? If not, could you please ask the minister for a written response?
Thank you for your question. I’m not in a position to provide a timeline, but I will certainly make inquiries. It does give me the opportunity to remind those watching us — and, of course, those in the chamber — of the historic investment that this government is making in our national defence. It will be an ongoing, continuing commitment to ensure that we have the resources, whether material — such as submarines and other technologies — or human, to ensure that we and our sovereignty are protected for the benefit of all citizens for generations to come.
Thank you, Senator Gold. I look forward to the written response.
Any procurement of this cost and duration must be able to last over successive government cycles. There has been talk regarding the Defence Industrial Strategy, and I will continue to bring this question up. Can you please inquire about when we can expect this strategy hit the streets?
Thank you. As I said in response, I shall certainly make inquiries with regard to your first question, and I will certainly add that further matter to the inquiries I make of the minister.
