Ottawa to buy three new supply ships for $2.1-billion

HALIFAX — The federal government will buy three new supply ships — at a cost of $2.1-billion — over the next six years as part of a multibillion-dollar defence buildup.

The news, delivered on deck of the navy frigate HMCS St. John’s, moored in the Halifax harbour, is the first of a series of morale-boosting, defence-spending announcements planned this week across the country by the Conservative government.

All told, the military will get about $15-billion in new ships, helicopters, aircraft and vehicles.