According to the Ottawa Citizen, Cabinet recently approved the purchase of 6 Arctic Patrol Vessels, at a total estimated cost of $1.8 Billion. As Dr. Rob Huebert is quoted in this article, this purchase will be worthwhile when the Coast Guard has its icebreaking capability restored. So far, no word on that front.
For those keeping score, the much maligned David Pugliese, who Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor accused of "sheer speculation" is, by my count, 1 for 1.
Still to come, if Pugliese's speculation was accurate are:
- forward operating refuelling and berthing sites
- an Arctic warfare training centre
- an increase in size of the military's existing Canadian Rangers unit
- a small number of northern utility aircraft.