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As outlined in a recent Defence Watch post, the Liberal government’s defence review is expected to take a hard look at the Victoria-class submarine fleet.

The second-hand subs, purchased by the Chretien government on the advice of senior navy officers, has had more than its problems.

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The Royal Canadian Navy wants to continue operating the submarines, as they see them as valuable assets for the country’s security.

The previous Conservative government felt the same way. It examined whether to continue with the sub fleet and determined it made sense to carry on with the Victoria-class fleet.

Navy commander Vice-Admiral Mark Norman says the boats have proven their worth in recent times and funding will be needed to modernize the subs to keep them operating into the 2030s. A decision is needed in the next year or two on whether to commit the funding to that, Norman told the Ottawa Citizen’s Lee Berthiaume.

That funding is estimated to be more than $1.5 billion. Some estimates put it as high as $3 billion.

“The decision is tied to the fact that if we want to plan for another cycle, we have to get that into the investment plan, and that has to be programmed,” Norman said. “So we need some sort of indication that we’re going to continue to operate the submarines.”

Will a Liberal government decide it will not keep submarines (purchased by another Liberal government) operating? Or will the Trudeau government decide there is no point to pumping in more money into the Victoria-class boats?

Your thoughts?