Shipbuilding to be part of Canada's economic stimulus

The Canadian Government is planning to hold a "shipbuilding summit" early in the new year. According to Canadian press reports, the Government wants to make shipbuilding programs part of its economic stimulus package. The catch is that the shipbuilding programs involved are not new and will be supported from funds already earmarked for the construction of navy supply ships, patrol boats and icebreakers. Earlier this year, Public Works, the federal government's tendering arm, halted a $2.9 billion replacement process for the navy's Joint Support Ship and also pulled the plug on a $340 million proposal to build 12 coast guard inshore patrol vessel.
Now Defense Minister Peter MacKay plans to convene a shipbuilding summit, involving National Defence, Industry Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada. Apparently, the aim is to come up a continuous shipbuilding program that gets away from the boom and bust cycle while at the same time wringing concessions from yards and unions.