Canadian Forces does 180 on reserve fleet cuts
Posted May 14, 2010 03:30:18 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The navy won’t be mothballing half its coastal patrol ships after all.
The head of the armed forces has told his top admiral to rescind an order to pull six ships out of service until a funding review is completed.
Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden wrote a letter to naval staff last month announcing the planned reduction and blaming the cost of upkeep.
But Gen. Walt Natynczyk, chief of the Defence staff, now says the ships will stay in service and the military will look at other ways to ensure funding.
“So the question at hand right now is, if we can review the assets across the Canadian Forces can we adjust the number of ships available, and therefore in fact enhance our operation readiness across the board,” said Natynczyk Friday.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay insists the navy is better funded than ever and has much to be proud of in its 100th year of service.
