Today, the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, recognized the one-year anniversary of the largest procurement sourcing arrangement in Canadian history and highlighted how the Government of Canada is strengthening the western Canadian shipbuilding industry and creating jobs by delivering on Western Canada’s Shipbuilding Action Plan.
“One year ago, western Canadians celebrated when Vancouver Shipyards and Irving Shipbuilding were selected under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy to build Canada’s next generation of vessels,
” said Minister Yelich. “Through Western Canada’s Shipbuilding Action Plan, our Government is helping to ensure companies across the West are well-positioned to pursue the resulting business opportunities, which is creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.
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Launched in February 2012, Western Canada’s Shipbuilding Action Plan is helping to make the West’s shipbuilding industry internationally competitive and sustainable. The Action Plan supports western Canadian companies in taking advantage of new business opportunities by bringing together key stakeholders involved with the Government’s shipbuilding strategy with western Canadian small-and- medium-sized enterprises.
As a concrete first step in implementing the Action Plan, in February 2012 Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) made an investment towards the creation of the Industrial Marine Training and Applied Research Centre in Esquimalt, B.C. to support the training of highly skilled workers in British Columbia. Next, in May 2012, WD partnered with Seaspan Marine Corporation to host the Western Canadian Shipbuilding Summit, which brought together over 600 key players to connect with new business opportunities in British Columbia’s thriving shipbuilding industry.
Over the coming months and years, WD will continue to support the Action Plan by undertaking a number of activities to help businesses across the West maximize opportunities created by NSPS. WD will coordinate Shipbuilding Information Sessions across Western Canada to help ensure western Canadian companies understand how to take advantage of key business prospects. The Department will also plan supplier development tours to showcase Western Canada’s shipbuilding capabilities, continue to make strategic investments that further develop and grow the West’s shipbuilding industry, and advocate as the champion for Western Canada’s shipbuilding industry to promote its strengths and ensure its long term competitiveness.
Today also marks the official groundbreaking of Seaspan Marine’s infrastructure upgrades to the Vancouver Shipyards. In order to build the ships efficiently, both shipyards are required to modernize their infrastructure. For more information on these infrastructure upgrades and today’s event, please visit the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy web site.
Since 2006, the Harper Government, through WD, has invested in job-creating small and medium-sized businesses, aerospace, marine and defence industries, and supported innovative entrepreneurs in pursuing emerging markets. By continuing to promote new economic opportunities, WD is helping to create jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity.
Nicholas Insley
Office of the Minister
Western Economic Diversification
Telephone: 613-954-1042
Email: Nicholas.Insley@wd-deo.gc.ca
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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