Ship building contract has brought no one home

To the Editor:
Several months ago the Federal Government announced a multi-billion dollar national shipbuilding program and the bulk of that contract going to the Irving Shipyard in Halifax, the sum being $35 billion. And at that time the call went out that all young men and women and tradesmen should make their way back to Nova Scotia, for jobs were just around the corner.
That has not happened for on July 10, Peter MacKay made an announcement that they were giving the Irving Shipyard $9 million to do a review. So the way it stands now, no steel has been cut or laid for a keel of any of the ships or off shore vessels and no men have been hired.
So I think the time has come for the Harper Government to give the Canadian people a clear answer as to why money is being paid out but no ships being built. The program is now being handled by the Public Works Dept. and not the Defence Dept. But Peter MacKay is still doing the announcements and getting the picture ops.
It may be time to call on our good brothers from the First Nations to build us some war canoes for we just may need them if the Harper Government keeps wandering around in the dark.
It would only make sense for a company to bid on a contract as large as this one, they would have to have a design to work with to come up with a price for their bid. And as it stands now, our young men and women and tradesmen are still working in other parts of Canada. Thank you and have a great day.
Loyd Murray
New Glasgow