Marystown, NL – Jonathan Rowe, Conservative Member of Parliament for Terra Nova—The Peninsulas, released the following statement on shipbuilding:
“Today in St. John’s, I was proud to stand with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Conservative Shadow Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Carol Anstey as we announced our support for integrating Newfoundland and Labrador into Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).
“Canada has the longest coastline in the world to defend and we need new ships to protect it. Our adversaries have not stopped building, and neither should we.
“The Royal Canadian Navy should have the ships it needs to protect Canadian interests, and that starts with making the most of the infrastructure that we have.
“We are calling on the government to expand the Strategy to include existing facilities in Newfoundland and Labrador: a province with a long history of shipbuilding. With the current NSS partner shipyards already booked, this move would help increase Canada’s shipbuilding capacity without undermining current contracts or threatening existing jobs.
“As a proud Newfoundlander, I know that this island and its skilled workforce can play a major role in keeping Canada safe. Construction sites such as Argentia, Bull Arm and the Cow Head Facility in Marystown have the workforce, harbours and infrastructure to make this happen.
“This is a straightforward move to bring jobs and security for Canadians. Conservatives will always fight for a Canada that is truly glorious and free, whose proud sailors have the ships they need to stand ready.”