Rona Ambrose

[National Defence, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we have ensured not only that we have rigorous, independent oversight when it comes to costing but also that we are bringing in important shipbuilding expertise. We have not only First Marine International, which is an internationally recognized expert in the shipbuilding industry, overseeing the strategy but also an independent third party with shipbuilding expertise that will be reviewing not only the project management but also the cost validation for every step of every ship project moving forward.

If adjustments need to be made, they will be done in partnership with the shipyards, the navy and the Coast Guard.

[National Defence, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our national shipbuilding procurement strategy has employed rigorous independent oversight and shipbuilding expertise from the start. This oversight has included: a fairness monitor for our competition; internationally respected experts in the shipbuilding industry, First Marine International, which is overseeing the whole strategy; an independent validation and oversight firm which is KPMG; and we will have an independent third party to advise the shipbuilding secretariat on project management and cost validation for each step of every project moving forward.

Let us remember that this is in the design phase, but we have all these measures in place to protect the taxpayer.

[National Defence, February 26th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, we have allocated $33 billion for the procurement of new ships that will be built in Halifax and Vancouver. The member also knows that those cost estimates come from military planners. In fact, I believe that the member posed that question to those very experts on this issue at committee, and he was satisfied at that time with their answer.

However, I will reiterate that those cost estimates do come from military planners. They involve the oversight of auditors and cost estimators at the Department of National Defence and, of course, oversight by Treasury Board Secretariat.

[National Defence, February 26th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for his support for the Vancouver Shipyards workers.

Our government is very proud of our historic decision to build our ships for our navy and Coast Guard right here in Canada, in Halifax and Vancouver. Great progress is being made. Both shipyards are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade their yards. This Friday, I announced a series of contracts for our joint support ships, our polar icebreaker and our offshore fishery science vessels with the workers at Vancouver Shipyards.

The national shipbuilding strategy means stability for the industry. It means good jobs and vital equipment for the navy and Coast Guard.

[National Defence, February 14th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, the government has allocated a budget of $33 billion for the procurement of new ships to be built in Halifax and Vancouver.

In terms of cost estimates, those come from military planners with the involvement of auditors, cost estimators, oversight by the shipbuilding secretariat, the treasury board secretariat and the chief financial officer of the Department of National Defence.

Industry analysts say that this will create 15,000 jobs across the country and $2 billion in additional economic spinoff in the next 30 years.

[National Defence, February 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the government has allocated a budget for the procurement of new ships that, of course, will be built in Halifax and Vancouver by Canadian shipyards.

The cost estimates that the member is referring to come from military planners. Of course, they have the involvement of auditors and cost estimators and are overseen by the Treasury Board Secretariat.

However, let us not underestimate the importance of these projects moving forward. They will create 15,000 jobs across Canada and $2 billion in annual economic benefits for the next 30 years.

[National Defence, February 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, this was a cost-saving proposal that was put forward by officials, but it was rejected by me and by my government.

I gave clear directions to my officials last fall to continue offering this service, because it is important to the defence and security sector, and it is important for job creation.

[National Defence, February 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, all we have to do is point to the $33 billion investment in Canadian shipyards in this country, the 15,000 Canadian jobs it will create over the next 20 years and $2 billion in annual economic spinoffs.

In terms of the assist audits, I gave clear direction to my officials last fall to continue offering this service, as has been done for a number of decades. We recognize that Canada's defence sector creates high-quality jobs and we are here to support it.

[National Defence, February 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, in terms of using our military procurement to create jobs and economic opportunity, as the Jenkins report recommends, the shipbuilding strategy is a perfect example. In fact, we have allocated $33 billion for ships to be built in Halifax and Vancouver by Canadians, by Canadian shipyards.

In fact, industry analysts suggest that government ship projects will contribute, both directly and indirectly, to 15,000 jobs across this country and $2 billion in annual economic spinoffs over the next 20 years.

[National Defence, February 12th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on what matters to Canadians, which is jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.

We believe the government is more powerful as a customer than as a subsidizer. Military procurement plays a major role in the Canadian economy, and it drives innovation. It is estimated that every billion dollars in defence and security spending creates or sustains 18,000 jobs and creates $710 million in gross domestic product.

To help inform our further development of our defence procurement strategy, I appointed Tom Jenkins as a special advisor. Today I welcomed his report.