Americas News
Canadian Navy Bunkering Vessel Project Centre of Canadian Authorities' Probe
Sources say that a probe by Canadian authorities, which led to the removal of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman from the Canadian military, largely centres on a CAN$700 million ($521.78 million) plan, known as Project Resolve, intended to provide the Royal Canadian Navy with a bunkering vessel, Canadian media reports.
The project, which includes the conversion of a commercial vessel to a bunkering ship by Federal Fleet Services, was approved by the country's previous Conservative government and navy commanders.
However, the project is reported to have been delayed by the succeeding Liberal government after James D. Irving, co-CEO of Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding, sent a letter to cabinet ministers suggesting the contract for the ship was sole-sourced.
Irving Shipbuilding has since told Postmedia that it made no complaints to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) related to Project Resolve, with Sean Lewis, Director of Communications at the shipbuilding firm, stating: "Irving Shipbuilding and our affiliated companies have no involvement."
Police, who are now investigating how information related to the alleged letter was released, are said to have interviewed more than 30 personnel at the Department of National Defence, Public Services and Procurement Canada, as well as Federal Fleet Services.
The investigation has so far not seen any charges laid against Norman or anyone else, and RCMP has declined comment.
The Canadian navy is said to have been without bunkering capability since the vessels that previously performed the role were removed from service due to age.
Norman is reported to have told a Canadian House of Commons committee in 2014 that the country could no longer rely other countries, such as the U.S., to bunker its warships.
