OTTAWA — A British Columbia consortium has won a $1.5-billion maintenance contract for Canada's four Victoria-class submarines in a controversial decision that defence sources say went all the way up to the prime minister's desk.
Canadian Submarine Management Group was informally awarded phase one of the 15-year contract by the Conservative government almost a year ago. But a signed, written agreement was put on hold last year after a lawsuit was filed by a group that includes Maritimes-based rival Irving Shipbuilding.
There were suggestions last fall the contract would be re-tendered, but the navy has told both Defence Minister Peter MacKay and the Privy Council Office that such a move would create an unacceptable delay in the submarine program, which is already years behind schedule.
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080103.wsumbarine0103/BNStory/National/home------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Things that make you go hmmmmm...