I think I’m still in shock. Halifax really did win the contract for building the bulk of new warships for the Royal Canadian Navy and there was virtually no fallout from the decision. So, to reiterate, the selection of shipyards was based purely on merit – which yard could do the job best - and NOT based on politics. I wanted to wait before commenting because I was sure there would be fallout or a re-examination of the decision process or…something! But no, other than the interim NDP leader’s comments - what choice did she have being where their power base is now - nothing. Everyone seemed to look at the decision and simply say, ‘Yup, makes sense to me.’Forgive me for being sceptical, but in spite of never doubting for a moment that Halifax Shipyards was obviously the best choice, having seen what’s happened in the past, I honestly expected the contract would go to Quebec. Especially with the 11th hour ‘dealing’ that was going on with Davie Shipyards and the extension added to the submission deadline so they could throw together a bid.
Like most of you who may have watched the decision announcement on television, I held my breath; knowing what should happen but hoping we here in the land of Bluenoser’s would receive at least the second, smaller contract. There was a moment’s hesitation as the translations were being messed up as usual, but the site of everyone literally going nuts at the Halifax Shipyard made me realize that what I had thought impossible had just happened.
A Canadian Federal Government had decided that enough was enough and had ensured the contract – the largest ever in Canada – would go where it SHOULD go and followed through to make sure that would happen.
What this will mean to Nova Scotia and indeed all of Atlantic Canada has been well documented so I won’t go into that here. Suffice it to say that the Royal Canadian Navy can be assured that they will once again be sailing the BEST warships in the world if they are sent in harms way.
Oh, and the peaceniks of course aren’t happy. They are already out there with their screams of, ‘Imagine what that money would buy…’ They are right of course. Imagine what that money could buy in a perfect world. It would be wonderful to see it poured all over the 99% (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself) but our world is far from perfect and we need to make sure that we have the ability to defend our freedoms and values – oh, and their right to complain about our military defending their right to…well, you get the picture.
In a 'slightly' related story, the CBC yesterday (October 28th) announced that the Harper Government was looking at buying nuclear submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy. That will teach Minister of Defence, Peter MacKay to dare verbalize his dreams. A mere suggestion of his sent our national broadcaster into a fury and the comments on their website were totally insane. Canada of course, is not buying nuclear submarines, but on the other hand, it was kind of fun to watch people who hadn’t bothered to read through the whole article dive off the deep end.
Of course many of them went on the usual rant about how Canada has never been involved with nuclear weapons and why would we start now. I would ask them to Google Canadian Nuclear Weapons. I would also suggest thet they be sure to sit down when you do because if Peter MacKay’s musing set them off, they’re really not going to like what they find out about our 'Peace Keeping' efforts during the Cold War.
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