The West Block: Dec. 31, 2023 | The top political stories of the year

The state of the Royal Canadian Navy | L'état de la marine royale canadi...

...With Transcript.

see also : https://forces.ca/en/

and

 https://forces.ca/en/about-us/navy?utm_campaign=dnd-mdn-sem-22-23&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=ggl&utm_content=ad-text-en&utm_term=royalcanadiannavy&adv=2324-409731&id_campaign=19904845882&id_source=147148894269&id_content=652798016561&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0smY8cDKgwMVUkhHAR3s2AEeEAMYASAAEgLtyPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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some very serious challenges

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right now that could mean we

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failed to meet our force posture and

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readiness commitments in 2024 and beyond.

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The situation serious, but our problems

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are not unique, and I know that

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the air force and the army are facing

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similar challenges.

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Historically, we have risen to every

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challenge, so I am

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confident we will find a way to get

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through this. When I took command, I laid

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out three priorities, people,

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platforms, and being ready to

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fight. These remain my focus. People are

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the heart and soul of our

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naval force. History tells

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us that the best sailors, not the best

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ships, win at sea. The

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RCN is in a critical state,

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with many occupations experiencing

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shortages at 20% and higher. There is a

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simple reason for this.

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Despite their very best efforts, CFRG has

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not delivered the

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required intake for the RCN for

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over 10 years. While our overall

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attrition is generally good,

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our Martech leaves us every two

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days. Our West Coast fleet is beset with

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a shortage of qualified techs

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constraining our ability to

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maintain and operate our ships and

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causing us to prioritize the Halifax

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class at the expense of the

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Kingston class. Challenges and generating

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techs for the Harry DeWolf

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class mean that we could only

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sail one at a time right now. Preparing

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to fully crew the first

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JSS by 2025 is a considerable

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challenge, but we cannot and will not

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fail. That is why the

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highest priority for the RCN is

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attracting, recruiting, and training

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sailors to the occupational

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functional point to hold our

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trained effective strength at its current level.

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We may not achieve this target this year,

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and we won't reach it next year.

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and we absolutely must start to increase our workforce.

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That is why we launched the naval

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experience program this

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past April. 98 candidates

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are enrolled with 400 prospects in the

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recruiting process, helping to address

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the RCN's requirement

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of 1200 new enrollees this year and every

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year thereafter. NEP has

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other benefits. It has engaged

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our naval reserve divisions in recruiting

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for the regular force, the number of

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potential applicants

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at recruiting centers who asked about the

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Navy has tripled, and we are

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enrolling three times as many

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visible minorities and indigenous

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Canadians through NEP as

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normal. It has forced the RCN to

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better manage all our personnel on the

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basic training list,

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which is beginning to deliver

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an improved experience for all trainees.

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We have no choice but to change -

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and, as we undertake the largest peacetime

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recapitalisation in our history,

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this is the perfect opportunity to reimagine

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our entire human resources model.

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To that end, the RCN has launched

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a comprehensive

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analysis to reshape all of our

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occupations and define the optimal

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crewing model for our ships. To meet our

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operational commitments,

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generate trained sailors, and achieve a

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sustainable establishment. It is a

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massive undertaking with

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key decisions that must be made in the

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next two years. With respect to

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platforms, I only have time

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to talk about surface combatants, but all

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sea days matter in generating enough

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sailors who are ready

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to help, lead, and most of all, fight.

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The Halifax Class frigates are and will

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remain our only surface

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combatant for at least the next 15 years.

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Why? Because we can't

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retire the Halifax Class until

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we have at least four Canadian surface

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Combatants certified for

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operations. We have made great

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progress in the past year because of some

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tough decisions to

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prioritize schedule over initial

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capability, and I am very confident that

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the first CSE will deliver

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early in the next decade.

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This is a massively complex ship, so it

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will take two to three years

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of tests and trials to make sure

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it works well enough to deploy the first

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one, and years more to have

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enough to relieve the burden

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from the Halifax Class. We must therefore

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find a way to keep the Halifax Class

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going until at least

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2040. Given that they've reached their

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design life of 30 years and

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that all 12 are absolutely

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required to meet Canada's commitments to

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NATO and the Indo-Pacific

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strategy, this is a very

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considerable challenge and the reason why

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the RCN consumes such a

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massive share of national

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procurement funds. I wish it was not so,

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but I'm afraid there

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simply is no other choice.

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These ships play a vital role in ensuring that

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sailors retain the unique core combat skills

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that can only be developed, exercised and

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used in surface combat ships.

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Today's Halifax Class ships will train the crews

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of tomorrow's warships.

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There is no other path.

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We've received four of our six

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Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels and the

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final two will be delivered in

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24' to 25' respectively. Last week Harry

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DeWolf delivered the Grey

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Cup to Hamilton with the family

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of its namesake on board. Like all new

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ships, they've had teething

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problems, but let me assure

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you that the AOPVs are outperforming

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expectations and are proving the value of the National Shipbuilding strategy.

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The first support vessel will be delivered in '25

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and the second will follow in '27.

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Finally, we launched the Canadian Patrol Submarine project

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to replace our Victoria class with a commercial submarine in the mid-30s.

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And now to my third and final priority,

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being ready to fight.

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The core naval functions are

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diplomacy, deterrence, and defence.

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we represent Canada abroad,

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and demonstrate our commitment

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to the rules-based international order.

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Deterance is the product of credible

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capability that is communicated clearly

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and consistently at sea.

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All this is backed up by a willingness to

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use lethal force to defend our nation

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and its maritime interests.

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Warships are unique in their ability to

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immediately adapt to emerging tasks or

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undertake completely

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new missions without needing new

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equipment, crew, or training. This

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requires the very best people

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supported by a diverse, innovative, and

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inclusive culture where everyone is

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empowered to perform to

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their full potential and feel a part of

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our shared success. This

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culture is not just a slogan,

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it's a call to action, a commitment to

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serve with purpose and pride.

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Despite the storm we are currently facing,

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I know that the future of the Navy is bright

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and I couldn't be prouder to serve

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in this great Canadian institution.

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Most of all, I want to thank every one of

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you for everything you do to support the

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Royal Canadian Navy. We

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