Nova Scotia, as has been trumpeted the last few days, came out the big winner in the procurement-arama competition, landing the most valuable of the contracts offered out on Wednesday.
Halifax's Irving Shipyards was awarded the lucrative 25 billion dollar combat ship contract, to provide the latest in naval capabilities for the recently re-christened Royal Canadian Navy, and while the fleet will no doubt welcome the new and shiny vessels upon their delivery, Wednesday's announcement was of course much more than just rebuilding the fleet.
The announcement was hailed in Nova Scotia as the kind of thing that will bring some of the diaspora of Nova Scotians that have left the province cause to come back home.
Likewise, in British Columbia, the Premier who of late never misses an opportunity for a photo op, was equally effusive over the opportunities for British Columbia's Seaspan shipyard with the announcement. It certainly offers up a bit of tangible job creation for her much touted jobs, jobs, jobs agenda of recent weeks.
Though it would seem that the way the process moved forward, that any actual credit for the announcement won't rest at the Premier's doorstep, rather, it is just a convenient opportunity that lands at her door in the nick of time.
For good measure, it was also revealed that any future BC Ferry fleet requirements would most likely utilize British Columbia shipyards, perhaps a back door admission that the German built ferry procurement of a few years back wasn't the wisest of strategies for a corporation that depends on British Columbians for its livelihood.
And should there be troubles along the way in the always challenging industry of shipbuilding, the Canadian government has the right to take over either of the two shipyards to complete the jobs at hand, should either default on their contractual obligations. An insurance policy of sorts for their 33 billion dollar investment.
While the champagne corks were popping in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, there was a bit of a bitter taste for the workers at the Davie Shipyard in Quebec City, the frequently bankrupt yard has just begun the process of moving back into the no bankruptcy world, the prospects of a federal contract for naval ships a hopeful wish that didn't come to fruition.
The Parti Quebecois as would be expected has used the announcement as another example of how Quebec never gets a fair shake and another example of Jean Charest's inability to deliver jobs to Quebec.
The decision to award the contracts to Nova Scotia and British Columbia, is having it's impact on the Federal NDP and its large Quebec caucus as well, as the euphoria and sadness appears split upon regional lines.
But, time perhaps will heal all wounds, as the CBC frequently pointed out on Wednesday afternoon, in the post mortem of the big announcement, there is still a rather large refit and rejuvenation requirement for the current ships in the fleet, which of course will have to be upgraded while the new vessels come on stream.
The dollar figures haven't been released yet on that project, and probably they won't be in the range of the windfall for Nova Scotia and maybe not that of BC. But providing the Quebec yard can stay afloat until that tender goes out, that refit work could factor in as a consolation prize to the folks at Davie Shipyards and perhaps a lifeline for Jean Charest.
That announcement of course is for another day, perhaps when it is need most and will provide for the maximum impact.
The press release from the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy outlined the successful bidders, the result of its long running process to add to the marine infrastructure of the nation, the details of which can be discovered through its website.
The CBC offers up a helpful review of just what 33 billion is going to provide (see slideshow here)
Further discussion points on the decision of Wednesday can be found below.
Globe and Mail-- Halifax, Vancouver win $33 billion in shipbuilding sweepstakes
Globe and Mail-- N. S. and B. C. Premiers hail 'Olympic' shipbuilding victories
Globe and Mail-- How Ottawa will reveal shipbuilding winners to yards, Tories and public
Globe and Mail-- Harper's team keeps hands off $35 billion shipbuilding hot potato
Globe and Mail-- Stakes high as Nova Scotia, B. C. Premier lobby for shipbuilding contracts
Globe and Mail-- Billions in shipbuilding contracts will make waves for Harper
Globe and Mail-- Procurement politics: The ship stops here
Globe and Mail-- Long wait almost over for shipyards seeking $35 billion in federal bounty
Globe and Mail-- Secrecy shrouds Ottawa's imminent $35 billion shipyard announcement
National Post-- Hope they float
National Post-- Picking the boat builders
National Post-- Taxpayers, prepare to run aground
National Post-- Quebec loses out on ship contracts
National Post-- A no-win scenario on military spending
National Post-- Public Works, Harper not informed of $35B decision
National Post-- 'Chomping at the bit', Navy says
Toronto Star-- Two winners and one big loser in contest to build military ships
Toronto Star-- Conservatives sailing into rough seas over shipbuilding contracts
CBC-- Was Quebec ships bid sunk by history of red ink?
CBC-- Politics of shipbuilding mean rough seas for Harper
CBC-- Halifax, B. C. yards win shipbuilding work
CBC-- Ships to start in Halifax, but not yet
CBC-- Jubilation as Halifax Shipyard awarded contract
CBC-- B. C. shipyard awarded $8B shipbuilding contract
Vancouver Sun-- Jubilation greets $8-billion shipbuilding contract for B. C.
Vancouver Sun-- Post-secondary sector prepares for marine-trades boom
Vancouver Sun-- Deal with federal government pulls B. C. shipyard industry out of long slump
Vancouver Sun-- Jubilation greets $8 billion shipbuilding contract for B. C.
Vancouver Sun-- NDP leader's criticism of shipbuilding off target
Vancouver Sun-- East, West coasts win shipbuilding contracts, Quebec frozen out
Vancouver Sun-- PM tells Clark contracts will be awarded without political interference
Vancouver Sun-- B. C. pledges $40 million to back shipbuilding bid
Vancouver Sun-- Evaluation process took the politics out of shipbuilding contracts
Vancouver Sun-- Federal government braces for blowback on $35B shipbuilding contract
Vancouver Province-- Hypocritical hurrahs from B. C. Libs over shipbuilding win
Vancouver Province-- Massive windfall as B. C.'s Seaspan wins $8-billion ship-building contract
Vancouver Province-- Colleges and companies gear up to fill skills and materials for B.C. shipbuilders
Vancouver Province--- Seaspan deal feels like the good old days
Vancouver Province-- 'Positive ripple effects' from deal likely to last decades
Vancouver Province-- B. C. Libs breathe sigh of relief over Seaspan contract
Vancouver Province-- Shipbuilding bid aided by rival's woes
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