Prime Minister Mark Carney said the federal government will pour $11.3 billion into Quebec’s shipbuilding industry to build six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard.

Carney called it the “largest” shipbuilding contract in the province’s history.

The new ships will replace the coast guard’s aging heavy and medium icebreakers, fulfilling a promise made in 2019.

“We will move fast. The first steel will be cut next fall, the first ship will be delivered five years later, and the full fleet will be in service five years after that,” Carney said.

“They will work in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence throughout the depth of winter, and in our Arctic throughout the summer.”

Carney made the announcement alongside Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette at the Chantier Davie shipyard in Lévis, Que., where all six ships will be constructed.

Fréchette, who is about to head into a provincial election campaign, called it a great day for Lévis.

She said the contract will protect the province’s economic sovereignty and create good careers, such as welders and technicians.

Carney said the contract will support 5,000 jobs during their construction.

The vessels fall under the federal government’s “Buy Canadian” procurement policy, and will be built with Canadian steel, Carney’s office said.

The announcement comes just days after trade talks with the United States collapsed, and as President Donald Trump issues new tariff threats against Canadian industry.

In 2024, Ottawa announced an initial $19.6-million contract to Davie under the national shipbuilding strategy to design the six new Polar Class 3 icebreakers.

The coast guard is going through a large fleet renewal, with the national shipbuilding strategy expected to oversee delivery of 88 new vessels in total by 2045.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2026.

— with files from Kyle Duggan in Ottawa