Navy commander defends submarine upgrades, mum on threat from foreign subs
OTTAWA — The head of the navy says the country needs submarines to know what is happening beneath the waves around Canada — though he won’t say if foreign subs are actually poking around Canadian waters.
The Trudeau government’s new defence policy includes a plan to extend the lives of the navy’s four submarines so they can sail into the 2030s, which sources say will cost upwards of $2.5 billion.
Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd says that investment is necessary, as having a submarine is the best way to spot others that may be approaching or have even entered Canadian waters, or those of its NATO allies.
“It’s just like airspace. You want to know what’s operating in your airspace. You want to know what’s approaching your airspace. You want to know what’s taking place in your airspace,” he said in an interview.