Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships:
Test Production Module—Cutting of Steel

Speaking Notes for The Honourable Diane Finley, PC, MP
Minister of Public Works and Government Services

Irving Shipbuilding
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
June 18, 2015

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Good morning, everyone! And thank you, Kevin, for that kind introduction! I’m very pleased to be here.

Thank you also to my colleague, Scott, for joining us here today, the people of Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley couldn’t ask for a better voice in the House of Commons!

Thank you as well to Irving for hosting us this morning.

Today, we have cause for celebration!

We’re about to cut steel on the test modules for the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships—and thereby pave the way for steel to be cut on full production of the AOPS in September.

We’re cutting steel on these modules so that we can get all the details right, up front, before full production of the AOPS starts in just a few months.

These test modules will enable Irving Shipbuilding to test new processes, get personnel familiar with the new equipment and streamline construction.

And, there are a lot of new facilities and equipment to get familiar with!

Over the last three years, Irving Shipbuilding has planned, demolished, reconfigured and rebuilt the Halifax shipyard and modernized and expanded the facility right here in Dartmouth.

All so that they could efficiently construct Canada’s combat vessels right here in Nova Scotia.

But we all know that ships don’t build themselves!

One of the best parts of visiting Irving, over the past couple years, has been meeting the people who work here and hearing their stories.

Stories about how our shipbuilding strategy is changing Canada’s shipbuilding industry and the lives of the people who work in it.

Stories like Mario Chaisson’s. A graduate of Nova Scotia Community College, Mario used to fly to Alberta for work now he is able to go home every night because he has a shipbuilding job right here in Halifax.

Stories like those of the 19 women participating in the Women Unlimited program who are getting the skills they need to become part of the AOPS build.

These women are from diverse backgrounds but are all pursuing careers in welding or metal fabrication through this program, which is a joint effort between Women Unlimited, Irving Shipyard and the Nova Scotia Community College.

One of these women is Courtney Miles. She grew up near Irving Shipyard but never believed that one day she would work here. She says everything is coming full circle as her father builds model boats to help him deal with his illness and in 2017 she will be building full-sized ships right where she grew up.

Toshia Crawford put her heart and soul in the Women Unlimited application and she is excited to be the first of her seven siblings to go to post-secondary school. She says her dedication to this program and new career is inspiring and motivating her family members.

There are so many more inspiring stories about these women. Many are single moms who are working towards a better future for them and their kids, and are excited to be able to do it right here in Nova Scotia.  

With Irving looking for over 200 experienced welders, pipefitters, and marine fabricators in preparation for full production and people lining up for trades programs at community colleges, I know there are many more stories in the making right across Canada.

That is because, although the AOPS are being built in Nova Scotia, the supplies for them are coming from across the country.

To date, Irving has awarded $720 million in contracts and engaged more than 128 companies across Canada.

And we haven’t even started full production yet! Imagine the impact our shipbuilding strategy will have 5 years, ten years or 30 years down the road. 

It’s clear that what’s been happening here at Irving is benefitting companies, and communities, across Canada.

By building in Canada, we’re not just developing Canada’s world-class shipbuilding capability; we’re also providing our Navy and Coast Guard with world-class capability, replacing their current fleets with new, modern ships.  

The new Harry DeWolf-class AOPS will conduct sovereignty and surveillance operations in Canadian waters on all three coasts, including in the Arctic.

The AOPS will also be used to support other units of the Canadian Armed Forces in the conduct of maritime-related operations and to support other government departments in carrying out their mandates, as required.

Through the NSPS we are asserting our sovereignty, creating jobs at home, and getting our Navy and Coast Guard the equipment they need to do the jobs we ask of them.

Thank you.

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