Harper Government Celebrates Start of Construction of First Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel

June 24, 2015 – North Vancouver, B.C. — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Andrew Saxton, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver and John Weston, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, witnessed the start of construction of the first Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV).

Jonathan Whitworth, CEO of Seaspan, delivers remarks to a large crowd at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards.

Woman standing behind a podium with two men standing behind her.

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, accompanied by John Weston, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country, and Andrew Saxton, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver, speaks with enthusiasm about the official construction of the first of three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV).

MP Saxton announces that the first OFSV will be named the CCGS Sir John Franklin in honour of the Arctic explorer.

A group of men and a woman cutting a cake.

From the left: Kyle Washington, Executive Chairman of Seaspan, Brian Carter, President of Seaspan Shipyards, MP John Weston, Minister Finley, Jonathan Whitworth, and MP Andrew Saxton.

A group of men and a woman posing for a photo.

Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards was awarded the contract for the OFSV under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.

MP Weston talks about the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and its economic benefits for Canadians.