Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canadian Defense Minister Bill Graham this week said he may scrap the nation’s submarine corps after a naval officer was killed in a fire at sea. Lt. Chris Saunders, 32, died of smoke inhalation from an electrical fire on the submarine HMCS Chicoutimi, a hand-me-down Canada had just bought from the British navy. Canada’s three other secondhand subs have been plagued with dents, rust, and flooding, and critics say they are unsafe. Navy commanders insist the submarines are vital for coastal security. Graham said he would retire the subs only if an inquiry concluded they were deathtraps. “Let’s take time before we abandon a program or become discouraged,” Graham said.
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