Sajjan says submarines critical for defence, but no decision on upgrades
OTTAWA — Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says the navy’s submarines are “critical” for Canada’s defence, but that the government has not decided whether to spend more money to keep them for the long term.
“Our submarines do play a critical role for sovereignty, but no decision has been made at this time,” Sajjan said from London, where he was attending a peacekeeping conference. “As we complete the defence policy review, we’ll have recommendations in there on the route we will be proceeding.”
Documents obtained by the Canadian Press show that the first submarine will reach the end of its service life in 2022, with the other three retiring one by one until 2027.
The navy estimates that extending their usefulness would cost between $1.5 billion and $3 billion, depending on the upgrades that are made and how long they are to remain in service.