Countries around the globe are assisting Russia in dismantling their leaky and dangerous Soviet-era submarines. Canada has signed up to decommission 12.
“Spent nuclear fuel in Russian submarine reactors presents an international security risk and an environmental threat to the Arctic and Barents Sea,” said Mr. Pettigrew. “Funding this initiative is a key element of our international security agenda and a high priority for Canada under the G8 Global Partnership announced at Kananaskis.” Russia currently has 56 retired nuclear submarines in the Barents Sea region awaiting disposal. Canada’s contribution will be to assist with the dismantlement of three Victor class nuclear submarines. Canada will be concluding at least three more similar annual agreements to support the dismantlement of 12 submarines at a total cost of approximately $116 million .
In response, Russian officials announced that in the spirit of co-operation, a reciprocal pledge;
“Canada’s Sea King helicopters have been a danger to their crews and an unacceptable drain on Canada’s attempts to restore their military capabilities.
Today, we announce funding for the retirement of 10 of these ancient helicopters at a total cost of $1256 (Cdn funds). This investment will purchase the fuel required to launch the sputtering death traps into the air long enough to crash safely into deep ocean waters off the coast of New Brunswick.
Good one. which initiative will save more lives it can only be guessed.
However, the Russians have probably forgotten to factor in Canadian gas tax and the tax on the tax (GST) in their calculations. Just have them send over those drunken diplomats who were booted out of Ottawa and give them the keys. The rest will take care of itself.
I say take the 12 nuclear subs , set the reactors on melt down just off the coast of British Columbia. It might warm up the ocean enough to get some warm air to filter into Saskatchewan.
When I first read about this project awhile back, I wondered why we were paying to turn these subs into razor blades. Given the difficulty our British-made diesel-electrics are going to have patrolling under arctic ice, shouldn’t we be buying and upgrading the Russian nuclear-powered subs instead of decommissioning them? 😉