Canada's submarines high and dry

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http://ca.news.yahoo.com/canadas-submarines-high-dry-115309852.html

Canada's submarines high and dry

CBC – 13 hours ago

Canada's fleet of used submarines is out of commission.

All four subs are now sidelined because of over-budget and delayed refits,

damage from running aground, or in the case of HMCS Chicoutimi, a fire that

gutted the sub's interior.

The benching of all of the navy's subs marks the first time since the mid-1960s

that Canada's Maritime forces are without a working submarine.

MP Stoffer said the deal to buy four used British subs has been a disaster

and leaves a hole in Canada's security.

" When somebody kicked the tires on these subs, they missed a lot, " said Stoffer.

" If the bad guy knows we don't have any submarines in our waters, then

polluting, drug smuggling, illegal immigrants, overfishing, all these things can

happen if we don't have a so-called silent deterrent out there. "

Since the first class sub arrived in 2000, the program has been plagued

with problems. Dents in the hull, cracked valves and a deadly fire have haunted

the fleet and now once again questions about the crippled subs have surfaced in

parliament.

On Friday, Defence Minister MacKay defended the submarines in the House of

Commons.

" No one would deny there have been challenges with respect to these submarines,

which were purchased by the previous government. In fact, Mr. Speaker,

submarines bring an important credibility and important capablity to the Royal

Canadian Navy, " said MacKay.

The government bought the British submarines on the navy's recommendation. The

navy is defending the billion dollar plus submarine program saying the boats are

vital to the defence of Canada even though none at the moment are capable of

firing torpedoes, submerging or even venturing out to sea.