Liberal defence critic John McKay said his party was too hasty in complimenting the government on its shipbuilding strategy.
“To go along with other botched procurements in this decade of doofus, like the F-35s, the fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft, the military vehicles, the Close Combat Vehicle, the Chinooks, we now learn that the shipbuilding plan is both behind schedule and over budget,” McKay said Monday in the Commons. “Does this mean we are going to have another seven-point plan administered by the three blind mice and the minister of gazebos?”
Public Work Minister Rona Ambrose stayed with her talking points, noting that the government is proud of the strategy and emphasized the number of jobs it will create. “This is a long-term industrial strategy,” she explained. “I have every confidence that Irving and Seaspan will work with the Coast Guard and the Navy to implement these projects on time and on budget. For our part, we will be providing oversight.” (Editor’s note – her comments don’t seem to take into account that AOPS is already behind schedule).
The NDP’s defence critic Jack Harris took a run at Defence Minister Peter MacKay on the NSPS. Harris pointed out that AOPS delivery has fallen behind even though a contract has yet to be signed. Harris says it’s three years but DND documents indicate two years.
“Shipyards have been selected for the national shipbuilding strategy, but no contracts have been signed,” Harris said.
MacKay countered, as he usually does, with statements that the NDP are against the troops.
Officials with the west coast shipyard Seaspan told the Vancouver Sun that they don’t see any future problems with the NSPS. “I can’t speak for the east coast, but from where I’m sitting I don’t see, nor have I seen, a problem,” the company’s chief executive officer Jonathan Whitworth said Monday.
Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: David Pugliese
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