Let's stimulate the economy with those "Arctic offshore supply boats"

I'm sceptical--but there's lots more opportunity for big-ticket, high-visibility, pork with vessels than with equipment for the Army and Air Force:

Feds eye shipbuilding as economic stimulus

By the way, the feds are going to show industry how to build vessels too:

...It is more expensive to build ships here than it is overseas in such places as Korea and Europe, and MacKay said cost will be a factor in the talks next month.

"That's something that will be on the table when we have this discussion with shipbuilders. Their representatives and the unions will be involved in the discussion," he said.

He hinted that the government has done its homework, examining how ships are built in industry-leading countries such as Norway...

Some people at Milnet.ca are sceptical too; and I love this comment:

The Conservatives have promised to build as many as eight Arctic offshore supply boats for the navy, replace the country's 12 patrol frigates, as well as modernize the fleet of medium and heavy icebreakers.

Arctic supply boats? I think someone just rolled the AOPV and JSS into a single platform. And what about the 280s? I was under the impression that due to FELEX the FFHs would be good for another 15-20 years.

Indeed. From an earlier post (and remember that ships aren't "boats"):

...*Joint Support Ships (contracting process now halted; first ship was originally to be delivered in 2012)

*Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (no contracting process yet underway, no in-service date)

*Destroyer/frigate replacement (formerly called Single Class Surface Combatant, now "Destroyer Replacement Project"; our three destroyers will start coming out of service over the coming years, the frigates are being modernized, notional in-service date for destroyer replacement is 2017, for frigate replacement is 2024)...

As for icebreakers, see this post (lots of further links):

The "Diefenbreaker"--in 2017!?!

Update: The Chinese threat? Come on, Peter (I really mean whoever did the briefing note):

The Conservative government's high-profile plan to buy $10 billion worth of new navy ships -- including a fleet of Arctic icebreakers -- needs to get "back on track," Defence Minister Peter MacKay says.

The matter is considered to be of growing urgency as Arctic ice is melting at a faster rate than expected, opening new polar sea routes that will test Canada's sovereignty aspirations in the Far North.

Mr. MacKay singled out possible naval encroachments from Russia and China, saying, "We have to be diligent."

In an interview, Mr. MacKay said the $2.9-billion plan to build and buy three new Joint Support Ships, as well as the $7.4-billion development of a fleet of as many as eight new Polar Class 5 Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships needs a fresh political kickstart in the new year.

"Would we like to accelerate that? Yes. That's going to require a real frank sit down, tête-à-tête with the shipbuilders association and the shipyards and the unions to get these procurement projects back on track, or back in the slip," Mr. MacKay said...

Mr. Harper called the new icebreakers essential to protecting Canada's future claims to the North and its rich oil, gas and mineral resources.

The government hopes to solicit bids by June 2009 and begin delivery by 2013.

2013? Sure, Peter. And a note to the reporter: the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships are not real icebreakers:

The ships will be able to patrol the passage's length in the summer navigable season, and can patrol approaches to the passage year-round...