Ottawa is forking over another $187 million to add two years to its lease of a converted civilian ship the navy has been using as a temporary supply vessel while it waits for permanent replacements to finally arrive.
The federal government announced the amended deal with Quebec-based Chantier Davie shipbuilding on Friday, months after revealing the navy will have to wait an extra two years for the delivery of new support ships.
Officials said in June that the first of two new support ships being built by Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver will not be delivered until at least 2025 — two years later than the most recent estimate, and six years later than originally anticipated.
Canada has been without a permanent supply ship since 2015, when the navy was forced to retire its existing two vessels earlier than expected after one caught on fire while at sea and excessive corrosion was discovered on the other.
The government initially relied on allies to fill the gap before agreeing to lease a converted civilian container ship from Davie named MV Asterix.
The initial five-year lease agreement between Ottawa and Davie for the Asterix was launched in January 2018 and valued at $620 million, before the government added another $70 million in 2020 because it was being used more than expected.
The new deal will see the government pick up two of five one-year options that were included in the original contract.
Documents obtained by The Canadian Press in 2020 showed the navy expects to continue relying on the Asterix and allies to help resupply Canada’s fleets at sea even after the two joint support ships are built.
Canada originally planned to buy three new navy support ships when it launched the project more than a decade ago, but cost overruns saw the order cut down to two.
Navy officials continued to indicate that two support ships were not enough to meet the maritime force’s long-term needs, as the government’s policy requires the military be able to operate two fleets at sea at the same time.
The fear is that the navy will be hamstrung whenever one of the two so-called joint support ships is out of commission, either for repairs or for some other reason.
Parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux estimated in November 2020 that the price of buying MV Asterix and another converted container ship from Chantier Davie would be around $1.4 billion.
That compares to around $4.1 billion to build two brand-new joint support ships.
But when asked in June whether the government was looking to purchase the Asterix outright from Davie, senior officials said no, in part because it is not designed for high-threat environments.
The initial deal between Davie and the government was at the heart of the failed prosecution of retired vice-admiral Mark Norman.
The military’s former second-in-command was accused of leaking cabinet secrets about the leasing agreement with Davie, but the breach-of-trust charge against him was stayed in 2019 when Crown prosecutors concluded that they had no reasonable chance of securing a conviction.
The Crown also dropped its related case in June against a federal public servant, Matthew Matchett.
Both men had maintained their innocence.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2022.
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Toronto Blue Jays have reinstated shortstop Bo Bichette from the 10-day injured list, but infielder Will Wagner will miss the remainder of the season and outfielder Daulton Varsho has been placed on the IL.
Bichette, 26, has missed two months with a right calf strain. The two-time all-star hit .286 (4-for-16) with two runs batted in over a four-game rehab assignment with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
Bichette is batting .222 with four home runs and 30 RBIs with Toronto this season. The Jays activated him ahead of their game at Texas on Tuesday.
Wagner was placed on the 60-day injured list with left knee inflammation. He missed the last two games of Toronto’s three-game sweep of St. Louis last weekend.
Wagner, who had eight hits over his first four Major League games after making his debut Aug. 12, hit .305 with two homers and 11 RBIs over 82 at-bats. He had a five-hit game in a 15-0 win over Minnesota on Aug. 31.
Varsho was placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to Saturday with a right shoulder strain. He is batting .214 with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs.
The Blue Jays also recalled outfielder Steward Berroa from the Bisons and claimed right-handed pitcher Nick Robertson off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels and assigned him to Buffalo.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
OTTAWA – Thousands of Ottawa students could face suspensions for out-of-date vaccination records as the local health unit resumes enforcement after a two-year pause.
Ottawa Public Health says students born in 2007 and 2017 whose immunization records are out-of-date could face up to 20 days suspension.
A report presented to the Ottawa Board of Health on Monday says about 14,500 students in that cohort, or just under two-thirds, are behind on their immunization records.
The health unit says it will first send out notices to families in December with information on how to get their child vaccinated and update their records, before issuing suspension notices in the new year if they are still out-of-date.
Before the pandemic, the report says about 17 per cent of students started the year with overdue records, coming down to five per cent by the end of the year, once the health unit sent out notices and immunization information.
But last year, 66 per cent of 7- and 17-year-old students who had their records checked were overdue for vaccines to start the year, only coming down to 38 per cent once the health unit had completed its surveillance efforts.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches told the board Monday the health unit needs immunization records information to determine what children may be at-risk in the event of an outbreak.
“The goal with this immunization surveillance is to promote population level immunization coverage rates that protect individuals and school populations,” she said.
Students in Ontario must be vaccinated against several diseases, including polio, measles, whooping cough and tetanus.
Studies have noted how COVID-19 related disruptions to routine immunization programs, such as school-based clinics, have contributed to a drop in student vaccination rates.
Others have also pointed to how the pandemic drove an increase in vaccine hesitancy fuelled by misinformation circulating on social media.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2024.
MAYERTHORPE, Alta. – RCMP say they have not been able to find two armed robbery suspects last seen west of Edmonton.
They say it’s believed the men are no longer in the Mayerthorpe area and that there is not an imminent risk to the community.
An emergency alert was issued earlier in the day after Mounties responded to a report of a stolen vehicle.
They say the vehicle was found abandoned and officers received information that the occupants had fled on foot with weapons.
RCMP say the public should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police.
One suspect is described as white, about 30 years old, five feet 11 inches tall, 205 pounds with dark hair and dark eyes, who was last seen wearing a cowboy hat and black sweater.
The other man is six feet tall, about 220 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a black flat brim hat with red letters.
