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Ottawa to announce changes to shipbuilding program

Workers construct components of the Arctic offshore patrol ships at the Irving shipbuilding facility in Halifax on Friday, March 4, 2016. The federal minister responsible for the shipbuilding program will be in Halifax Monday to give an update on the program.
Workers construct components of the Arctic offshore patrol ships at the Irving shipbuilding facility in Halifax on Friday, March 4, 2016. The federal minister responsible for the shipbuilding program will be in Halifax Monday to give an update on the program. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

An announcement is expected today on the multi-billion dollar project to replace the navy’s aging warships.

Public Services Minister Judy Foote will be at Irving’s Halifax Shipyard for the event and said she will focus on ‘refining’ the Canadian Surface Combatant procurement strategy.

The project for the 15 frigates has ballooned in cost since the former Harper government estimated it at $26 billion.

READ MORE: N.S. closely watching shipbuilding costs

Documents published last fall suggest the bill could run as high $40 billion.

During the federal election campaign, Justin Trudeau made a campaign stop in Halifax where he announced his government would stick to the original number of ships promised by the Conservative government in 2011. That means six Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and 15 Canadian Surface Combatants will be built at Halifax’s Irving Shipyard.

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-With files from Marieke Walsh, Global News

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