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The Canadian government is currently assessing two potential sites in Halifax for a new submarine maintenance facility, which is set to support the future fleet of 12 submarines. However, this initiative has raised alarms among Irving Shipbuilding, the country’s largest naval contractor, regarding the risk of exacerbating labour shortages that are already straining the skilled workforce essential for constructing Canada’s multibillion-dollar surface fleet.
Labour Strain in the Maritime Sector
Irving Shipbuilding warns that the establishment of a publicly owned, privately operated maintenance facility could further stretch an already limited supply of skilled tradespeople. The company has urged the government to collaborate closely with them to ensure that the workforce needed for both the new submarines and the ongoing construction of the military’s surface vessels is not compromised. With the Canadian government poised to order 15 new River-class destroyers at a cost of approximately $60 billion, the timing of such a facility could prove detrimental.
The two sites under consideration, labelled “Future Submarine Infrastructure” in government documents, are Wright’s Cove in Dartmouth and the Naval Armament Depot in Bedford. Both locations have unique characteristics; Wright’s Cove is an industrial inlet, while the Naval Armament Depot is a secure military site that has been operational since World War II.
The Need for Skilled Workers
As Canada ramps up its military spending and infrastructure development, leaders in the maritime industry are voicing their concerns about the labour market. The specialised skills required—such as those of marine pipefitters, hull fabricators, and high-tech systems engineers—are not easily replaced or quickly trained. This situation is creating a perfect storm of staffing challenges as the timelines for constructing the surface fleet and the new submarines overlap.
Jean-François Séguin, Irving Shipbuilding’s vice-president of government relations and communications, emphasised the urgency of the situation: “A new entrant in the market will need to draw from the existing workforce just as we are scaling up for our projects,” he stated. “This could severely impact the work we are currently delivering for Canada.”
Training Initiatives and Collaboration
The two international bidders for the submarine construction—South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems—are expected to create thousands of temporary jobs across the country. However, the long-term requirement for a skilled technical workforce on both coasts will necessitate years of training, which intensifies the urgency for workforce planning.
Irving is advocating for a collaborative approach with the federal government to develop training programmes that will prepare workers for the submarine sustainment roles needed. “We are asking the government to involve Irving Shipbuilding in discussions about the workforce needed for this new facility,” Séguin added. “Our existing training infrastructure is already in place, and we believe that by working together, we can ensure a smooth integration of skilled workers.”
The prospect of additional training initiatives is crucial, particularly as Irving estimates that hundreds of new skilled tradespeople will be required by the early 2030s to manage the River-class destroyer programme, in addition to the personnel needed for the submarine maintenance facility.
High Stakes for Military Readiness
As discussions progress, the federal government is close to finalising its preferred supplier for the submarine fleet, a procurement expected to cost up to $80 billion over the coming decades. Both bidders are actively seeking local partnerships to bolster their proposals, with Hanwha Ocean recently signing a teaming agreement with PCL Construction to enhance infrastructure on both coasts.
The chosen site for the submarine facility will adopt a “government-owned, contractor-operated” model, which means that while the government will fund the facility, a private entity will manage its operations. This approach could create a significant shift in how naval maintenance is traditionally conducted in Canada.
At a recent keel-laying ceremony for the HMCS Fraser, the first of the new River-class destroyers, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee underscored the urgency of the situation. “We need these ships as fast as we can get them,” he stated, reiterating that any delays in production could jeopardise national security readiness.
Why it Matters
The looming establishment of a submarine maintenance facility in Halifax comes at a critical juncture for Canada’s maritime industry. As the government seeks to modernise its naval capabilities, the delicate balance of workforce supply and demand will be paramount. If not managed effectively, this initiative could lead to significant delays in both submarine and surface fleet projects, ultimately impacting national security and the local economy. Ensuring that the right skilled workers are available when needed will be essential for the success of Canada’s ambitious naval expansion plans.
