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Halifax, B.C. yards win shipbuilding work
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CBC News-
By Laura Payton
Halifax's Irving Shipbuilding is getting the $25-billion contract to build 21 Canadian combat ships and Vancouver's Seaspan Marine has been awarded an $8-billion contract for seven non-combat vessels, the federal government announced Wednesday afternoon.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay said it was a very exciting day for the Royal Canadian Navy because the ships will help them prepare for the challenges of the 21st century.
He also congratulated Irving, which is based in his home province.
"They won this on their merit. They won this on hard work. They put forward a very competitive bid into a process that was merit-based, that was transparent, inclusive and open, and highly competitive," he said.
"And so for that, the shipbuilders of Nova Scotia deserve the credit for what is an absolutely wonderful day in our province."
Rona Ambrose, the minister of public works and government services, which handles procurement, said the contracts will provide 75 million hours of work and 15,000 jobs annually over the next 30 years.
"Our government made the strategic and historic decision to support the Canadian marine industry, to revitalize Canadian shipyards and to build ships for the navy and coast guard right here in Canada," she said.
The winning bids announced in Ottawa by François Guimont, the top civil servant from Public Works and Government Services, the department in charge of procurement, are for frigates, supply ships, patrol boats and icebreakers that will cover Canada's naval and coast guard needs for the next three decades.
Three shipyards entered bids: Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, Seaspan Marine in Vancouver and the Davie Shipyard in Lévis, Que. The competition among the three regions meant the file was bound to be politically tricky to navigate.
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