Government Operations committee  Assuming that all goes well as we continue with the negotiations this month, we can be in a position potentially early next year to have a contracted award for the design of the ship. Obviously, the outcome of the award is conditional on the negotiations. If the negotiations turn

Government Operations committee  We are in negotiations with the preferred bidder as part of the conditions precedent phase.

Government Operations committee  One of the bidders filed a procurement review complaint to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal on November 21. The tribunal has decided to inquire into the complaint, and it also issued an order to postpone the award of the contract.

Government Operations committee  It's a postponement of the award of the contract. The negotiations are ongoing. Maybe Michael can add to that.

Government Operations committee  Much like the defence policy, “Strong, Secure, Engaged”, which sets a path for the future capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces, that was not part of the national shipbuilding strategy per se. Obviously, when the NSS was announced, there was a program of work that was also es

Government Operations committee  I'm sorry, but I'm having trouble hearing you.

Government Operations committee  As we have gone through the national shipbuilding strategy implementation over the last several years, we've relied quite a bit on external advice, third party advice from different firms, whether it's on costing or scheduling, or even on some of the formulation of the project. W

Government Operations committee  I would say that they are not exactly the same, but, having been involved in the maritime helicopter project myself with the national shipbuilding strategy, I think they're of the same kind. They're not exactly the same, but I think they're both very useful in the sense that they

Government Operations committee  You mentioned the next major procurement, the future air crew training which is basically to replace the pilot training contracts that we have in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and in Southport, Manitoba, and also some of the training that occurs in Winnipeg by the air force, by one la

Government Operations committee  I would like to clarify that the location of the training will not change. However, all contracts will be combined into a single training system for all pilots. When we reach the point of determining the contractual requirements of the entrepreneurs who are interested, we will ce

Government Operations committee  Yes, we have. In fact, construction already started on the blocks last year.

Government Operations committee  Absolutely, and as Mr. Vandergrift just mentioned, the resequence will lead the shipyard in Canada to focus its attention on finishing the design work on the joint supply ships so we can start full production—

Government Operations committee  We have cost estimates for all the vessels. One of the reasons, I think, as Mr. Vandergrift mentioned, there was logic in changing the sequence was to allow for the oceanographic science vessel...so we can mature the design to remove some of the risks. In fact, we can see a pot

Government Operations committee  We know the work program that Vancouver Shipyards has to deliver on, and it includes the polar icebreaker. As you may know, they are moving forward right now with two deliveries of the fisheries science vessel this year, and the third one next year. The attention now is fully on

Government Operations committee  We have a timeline in the sense—