not even the Liberals are perfect. Too much 'cost cutting' is a risk.  Should I give a partisan speech about how the Conservatives spend hundreds of millions to billions on miltary acquisitions that didn't happen (and therefore were complete waste of money). Or the cost to 'design' an existing design for an ice breaker that never got off the drawing board? 

We should likely instead have built up our own capability using some sort of 'pressure hull' bought new. I'm sure the US could provide them.

I would even promote using nuclear power for submarines (developed in Canada) using or researching one of the 'small scale nuclear' options in the 50 to 100 MW range.  It could then be used to power a replacement ice breaker.