Prime Minister Stephen Harper is escorted by Vice-Admiral Robertson and Rear-Admiral Girouard prior to making an announcement of the construction of up to eight Polar Class 5 Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships at CFB Esquimalt in Victoria, B.C., on July 9, 2007. A new report by two independent think-tanks recommends the Harper government abandon its pet project to construct Arctic patrol ships for the navy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Deddeda Stemler
April 11, 2013 - 8:37 AM
OTTAWA - A new report by two independent think-tanks recommends the Harper government abandon its pet project to construct Arctic patrol ships for the navy.
The Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Rideau Institute say the $4.3-billion plan has been so watered down it no longer makes much sense, and should be scrapped in favour of high-speed coast guard cutters and civilian icebreakers.
The Conservatives promised the arctic warships during the 2006 election, saying they would build three heavily armed icebreakers to enforce the country's sovereignty in the North.
In 2007, the plan changed to up to eight light "ice capable" ships, including a major refuelling station in Nanisivik, Nunavut.
The report by researchers Michael Byers and Stewart Webb chronicles the delays and compromises in ship design, which were made in order to keep the project within budget.
Byers and Webb say as currently configured, the Arctic ships will be too slow, too unstable and too lightly armed.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013