Ongoing maintenance and refit costs for Canada’s submarine fleet has topped $3 billion, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. .“Canada’s four Victoria-class submarines form the core of the Royal Canadian Navy’s underwater surveillance capabilities,” said cabinet in an inquiry of ministry tabled in the House of Commons. .“Covert, well-armed and capable of patrolling vast distances, these submarines provide support to maritime law enforcement in investigating narcotics trafficking, smuggling, and polluting cases as well as conducting domestic and international operations.”.Cabinet said maintenance contracts running to 2025 will cost $3 billion, more than double the $1.3 billion disclosed two years ago. Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant requested the figures. .The Canadian Submarine Force acknowledged it was short on sailors. The Canadian military requires 503 members to run submarines. .“From 2019 to 2022, 140 submariners have been recruited,” said cabinet. .Seventy submariners completed their basic qualifications to date..Submarines spent little time at sea this year. The inquiry said of the four submarines, one was deployed for a total 43 days. .The other three submarines remained in dry dock. Cabinet said modernizing the fleet will improve living and deployment conditions and ensure survivability against future threats. .The Canadian government said this maintenance and modernization will support jobs. Parliament approved the purchase of the four used, diesel-powered submarines from the United Kingdom for $750 million in 1995. .University of Manitoba Centre for Defence and Security Studies Deputy Director James Fergusson said in 2021 Canada should abandon renewing its submarine fleet. .READ MORE: U of M prof says don’t replace submarines.“I just don’t see it in the context of what’s coming economically,” said Fergusson. .“The government may be spending like drunken sailors getting ready for election, but one day it’s going to come to roost.”
