DND Shipbuilding Contract

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by resetcbu1

Also I hope there is no "out" clause for the goverment should they have change of heart or if new goverment comes into play.

There isn't one, really. The RCN is rusting out. They needed the supply ships built years ago, and the destroyers are at the very end of their serviceable life.

Fortunately, this is one of the very few defence procurement processes this government has handled well (*cough*F-35debacle*cough*), and all parties were on board, so I don't see one of the other parties scrapping it should their be an unexpected change in leadership

[q12]

Military construction boom in Halifax

CTV Atlantic

Over 100 Million Dollars in construction projects at Willow Park, New Armory, Bedford Rifle Range and Natural Gas switch over the next 4 years.

http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=727103

[ILoveHalifax]

Surely someone will start a 'Save the old rundown buildings at Windsor Park' group.

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

There isn't one, really. The RCN is rusting out. They needed the supply ships built years ago, and the destroyers are at the very end of their serviceable life.

Fortunately, this is one of the very few defence procurement processes this government has handled well (*cough*F-35debacle*cough*), and all parties were on board, so I don't see one of the other parties scrapping it should their be an unexpected change in leadership

Here's hoping to an unexpected change in leadership! Woo let's get some democracy back in this country.

Seriously though, all Harper-bashing aside, when should we expect the first hulls to be laid down? Any timeline for when ships should be started? Or do we have to go through the 4 years of facilities construction first?

[resetcbu1]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Here's hoping to an unexpected change in leadership! Woo let's get some democracy back in this country.

Seriously though, all Harper-bashing aside, when should we expect the first hulls to be laid down? Any timeline for when ships should be started? Or do we have to go through the 4 years of facilities construction first?

here here a public lynching of harper is just what this country needs to bring us closer togeather lol joking aside though......

I belive part of the reason Halifax won it's bid was, the fact most of the infrastructure is in place and would require only upgrades to handle such a job.

[kph06]

Work appears to have started on the north end of the shipyard. There is a large amount of infill planned here. Currently there are two large crawler cranes and some excavators on site.

[Cold_Mixer]

Interesting article in Canadian Business with a slightly more critical view than the local perspective:

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/comp...ract-gone-bad/

[someone123]

The article seems to be mostly speculation, aside from the details on the contract delays. I don't think anybody who knows much about the federal government expected the actual hiring to happen instantly. 2015 is par for the course.

It's not necessarily true that all the more technical jobs will end up outside of Halifax, as alluded to by the "cruise missiles" comment. There are a lot of defense contractors with operations in the city. I think the assumption that the contract will amount to nothing is likely to be as wrong as the people who thought Irving would be hiring thousands of people a few weeks after the announcement.

[Drybrain]

Canadian Business usually takes alarmist/contrarian positions—it's an all-too-common magazine editorial mandate these days, to drive newsstand buys and/or website clicks. (They've been harping on the inevitability of a housing crash for years—and while I think we have an unsustainable housing situation in certain markets in Canada, I don't think it's going to spelunk into the toilet overnight.)

Having said that, some vigilance is in order, because a lot of the contract is up in the air. We definitely want to make sure as of the contract as possible is filled here in NS.

[BravoZulu]

The herald is reporting that a 288 million design contract has been signed with Irving for the patrol vessels

more details at link http://thechronicleherald.ca/novasco...l-ships-design

[someone123]

Another interesting detail mentioned in a similar ANS article is that the combat systems design work is expected to be done in Halifax, contrary to what was suggested in the Canadian Business article. Lockheed Martin does that sort of work, is located in Halifax, and is currently hiring.

[Keith P.]

And sadly, most of the online comments are negative and cynical. Talk about a culture of defeat...

[RyeJay]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

And sadly, most of the online comments are negative and cynical. Talk about a culture of defeat...

Look away from the mirror.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

And sadly, most of the online comments are negative and cynical. Talk about a culture of defeat...

On top of that a lot of the comments I've read are just wrong. The $300M conditional loan to Irving is sometimes spun as an unprecedented level of provincial government spending on industry, but the province spent over $1B on Sydney Steel over the years. The real dollar value is probably much greater than 3-4 times the Irving loan, and there was no promise of tens of billions worth of economic activity.

It's also wrong to pretend that this is unique to NS. Back in 2008 there was a $4B join federal/Ontario provincial government aid package for the auto industry.

The contrast between NS and BC is huge. Here in BC, the (smaller) shipbuilding contract was considered positive and there hasn't been much of a peep about it. Meanwhile, the NS story was a constant stream of excuses and negativity -- it's not going to happen, the numbers are a lie, all the real work will be done elsewhere, it's all just bankrolled by the province, and on and on.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Look away from the mirror.

Take a hike, junior.

[fenwick16]

Some more details have been released regarding the Irving Shipyard construction projects that are soon to begin. Here is a link - http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=...9&e=902a1848c9

Some renderings from the Irving link (above):





Halifax Shipyard Ultra Hall will be 47 metres high


Halifax Shipyard's New Parking Garage will be complete in January 2014, and will accommodate about 520 cars

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by someone123

On top of that a lot of the comments I've read are just wrong. The $300M conditional loan to Irving is sometimes spun as an unprecedented level of provincial government spending on industry, but the province spent over $1B on Sydney Steel over the years. The real dollar value is probably much greater than 3-4 times the Irving loan, and there was no promise of tens of billions worth of economic activity.

It's also wrong to pretend that this is unique to NS. Back in 2008 there was a $4B join federal/Ontario provincial government aid package for the auto industry.

The contrast between NS and BC is huge. Here in BC, the (smaller) shipbuilding contract was considered positive and there hasn't been much of a peep about it. Meanwhile, the NS story was a constant stream of excuses and negativity -- it's not going to happen, the numbers are a lie, all the real work will be done elsewhere, it's all just bankrolled by the province, and on and on.

That's because CB is the Quebec of NS...

Yes, but I just think the cynics are a specific group that really overshadows everything, like when anti-development people say there is no market for tall buildings when the capacity of towers is likely 100 percent in Halifax.

Its just b/s from people who don't participate in government or the private sector on any real level.

If these folks know so much about the "market" or "public expenditure" they would have a job where they would be paid to analyse it... sadly they are just armchair experts.

[Keith P.]

Also, if you are gauging things by online comments on the Herald and CBC sites, callers to talk radio and the like, it is important to remember that political party staffers, most of them from the opposition parties, dominate those areas and do their damndest to propagate negativity, misinformation and other nonsense that the gullible hard-done-by citizenship lap up. The culture of defeat remains alive and well around here. We don't know something good when it literally falls into our collective laps.

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Also, if you are gauging things by online comments on the Herald and CBC sites, callers to talk radio and the like, it is important to remember that political party staffers, most of them from the opposition parties, dominate those areas and do their damndest to propagate negativity, misinformation and other nonsense that the gullible hard-done-by citizenship lap up. The culture of defeat remains alive and well around here. We don't know something good when it literally falls into our collective laps.

My favorite example of that recently was Rob Ford's staffer calling in to Dumb and Dumber's radio show to go on about how amazing they are. Unbelievable.

[kph06]

Now that the current Hero Class project is wrapping up (#6 was launched yesterday, #7, #8 & #9 are well under construction) the current assembly hall is being torn down behind them as they move out of the building. Driving by today a large hole has been out in te site of the building presumably to vent the building during demolition. I think in a few months most of the site will be flattened.