Canada has the worlds longest coast line at 243,000km, it borders three oceans (Arctic, Atlantic & Pacific), recent scorning from NATO have forced the current PM's hand on defense expenditure and thus over the last 18 months new policies have been announced with a focus on the Arctic and Pacific.
One of these policies Canada has announced is a RFI to purchase up to 12 submarines in the coming decades to replace the four elderly Victoria class (formerly upholder class).
Now given Canada is well known for doing defense on the cheap my own personal thought is that this wont go over well.
The biggest issue right now and for the foreseeable future is recruitment and retention, followed by pay benefits and condition.
Canada bought the Upholder / Victoria class as a stop gap in the 1990s as they were going cheap, however they became the mainstay of the fleet in order to maintain the capability due to the outgoing Oberon class.
The Victorias are now due for replacement, the problem with doing this now is that by the time the first platform comes into commission in the 2030s the youngest Victoria will be over 40 years old.
Canada has no ability to build submarines and even though the PM hinted at nuclear submarines this is a total non starter either, Canada simply doesn't have the funds, Infrastructure or knowledge to maintain and operate such a platform on such a slim budget.
Equally they couldn't build a nuclear submarine either, nor can the yards in the USA, UK or France build them for Canada so I can safely say that is totally ruled out.
So the coming designs are the Korean KSIII, German 212CD, Japanese Teigei and the French Barracuda.
Under ice operations have been mentioned and while this is largely the domain of the nuclear boats AIP and long range diesels can operated to a limited degree in this area.
Indeed the recent NATO exercise saw the Portuguese 209PN (214) operate between Greenland and Iceland under ice and the German 212A have been operating under the Baltic ice.
Will Canada get 12 boats I personally don't think so, I am pretty sure it would be cut to around 6 boats but that's a good increase on the 4 they already have.
I would also say the 212CD is probably going to be the best option for Canada as well with the KSIII in close second.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-serv...ocurement.html
https://www.navalassoc.ca/wp-content...ment-Jolin.pdf
https://www.navalassoc.ca/wp-content...bmarines-1.pdf
https://news.usni.org/2024/07/16/can...ice-submarines