Should Canada purchase nuclear submarines?

Updated at 4:17 p.m. ET: Defence Minister Peter MacKay says Canada is not considering buying nuclear submarines.

MacKay's comments echo those of Government House Leader Peter Van Loan, who earlier Friday said the federal government has "no plan to replace the diesel-electric fleet purchased by the Liberals."

Should it?

HMCS Chicoutimi caught fire on its maiden voyage in 2004 and has been out of service ever since. (Canadian Press)Originally posted at 7 a.m. ET: The federal government is considering buying nuclear submarines to replace four diesel-electric ones purchased from the British Navy in 1998.

Jean Chrétien's Liberal government bought the subs from the U.K. in 1998 for $750 million, but they have cost more than $1 billion since in repairs and refits.

One of the subs, HMCS Chicoutimi, has seen just two days of active service. The sub caught on fire during its maiden voyage from the U.K. to Canada on Oct. 5, 2004, killing one sailor. The other three subs aren't currently in service either.

High-ranking sources tell CBC News the government is actively considering cutting its losses on the dud subs, and mothballing some, if not all, of them.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay has hinted they might be replaced with nuclear submarines that could patrol under the Arctic ice, something the existing fleet cannot do.

Should Canada purchase nuclear submarines to replace the diesel subs? Does the Royal Canadian Navy need submarines at all? Let us know what you think.



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