Washington – In an increasingly complex world, the security threats faced by Canada are rapidly changing, none more so than in the Arctic. The warming Arctic is becoming increasingly navigable and opening a new arena of competition that our adversaries are eager to exploit. In response to these challenges, Canada must assert its Arctic sovereignty and work alongside allies to protect its interests in the North.
Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant, joined by Alejandro Mayorkas, United States (U.S.) Secretary of Homeland Security, and Wille Rydman, Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs, signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact).
This landmark partnership will enhance industry collaboration among our countries, coordinate expertise and strengthen our abilities to produce best-in-class polar vessels, including icebreakers. The ICE Pact will allow new equipment and capabilities to be produced more quickly. This includes setting up a system to rapidly exchange information on these icebreakers, keeping construction cost-and-time efficient. Through the ICE Pact, Canada, the U.S. and Finland will also work together on a joint workforce-development program to ensure that the workers building these vessels have the skills and training required. By jointly developing and producing world-class Arctic and polar icebreakers, we are laying the foundation for a competitive shipbuilding industry.
This increased cooperation will create thousands of good middle-class jobs, grow our economy, empower scientific research, and help uphold security and sovereignty in the Arctic. This partnership will be the groundwork for like-minded nations to increase their polar capabilities in the Arctic and Antarctic regions for generations to come. The ICE Pact is a win for our workers, our shipbuilding industry and our security, and it is a testament to the strength of allied cooperation in addressing shared challenges. Canadian shipyards will continue building polar icebreakers and other Arctic and polar capabilities under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).
The Arctic and North are integral parts of our country, home to 150,000 Canadians and generations of Indigenous communities. With transformative agreements like the ICE Pact, and through Our North, Strong and Free, Canada is ramping up investments in defence and security. Our investments, which will help us reach the North Atlantic Treaty Organization defence pledge, include $218 million for new Northern Operational Support Hubs in the Arctic, $18.4 billion to acquire a more modern tactical helicopter capability, $307 million for airborne early warning aircraft to detect airborne threats sooner, and $1.4 billion for specialized maritime sensors to defend Canada from underwater threats on all 3 coasts. We will always work with allies to protect our country, our continent and the rules-based international order.
“As Arctic nations, it’s imperative that Canada, Finland and the United States invest in the production of icebreakers to protect our sovereignty in the North. The ICE Pact agreement will strengthen shipbuilding in Canada and will be essential in creating and maintaining good middle-class jobs. By working together, we are supporting national security and climate interests in the Arctic for the collective benefit of all 3 countries.”- Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant
“Through this enhanced trilateral partnership between Canada, the U.S. and Finland, our governments are committed to building world-class Arctic and polar icebreakers. This collaboration will drive innovation, share expertise and strengthen Canada’s shipbuilding sector, while ensuring our nations are better prepared to tackle the unique challenges of the Arctic and polar regions.”- François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“Today’s signing represents our commitment to working with international Arctic partners on the construction of polar icebreakers. Through increased information sharing and joint learning opportunities, the ICE Pact will help us ensure we’re building the highest-quality polar icebreakers for our future Canadian Coast Guard fleet.” – Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
“Canada’s Arctic region is warming at 4 times the global average, making the region more accessible to our adversaries who have growing capabilities and regional military ambition. Like-minded nations need to work together to ensure the Arctic and polar regions remain peaceful, cooperative and prosperous. This agreement between Canada, the United States and Finland will increase cooperation between our 3 nations and will support our collective economic, climate and national security priorities in the Arctic.” – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence