The Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact is a trilateral agreement between Canada, Finland and the United States (US) to enhance our collective capabilities to produce world-class icebreaking vessels needed to assert our polar and Arctic sovereignty. With the second-largest icebreaking fleet in the world and shipyards experienced in building icebreakers, Canada's expertise in Arctic and polar capabilities is essential to the success of the ICE Pact.
Today, on behalf of the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, Kirsten Hillman, the Ambassador of Canada to the US, joined Kristi Noem, the US Secretary of Homeland Security, and Sakari Puisto, Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs, to sign a joint statement of intent (JSOI).
The JSOI strengthens industrial cooperation among the 3 nations, aiming to build and maintain icebreakers and related capabilities while supporting domestic shipbuilding industries and creating well-paying jobs in the marine sector. By pooling expertise and resources, Canada, the US and Finland are expanding their icebreaker fleets to better address Arctic challenges.
Key priorities under the JSOI include:
- enhancing industrial collaboration across all stages of icebreaker production
- launching trilateral workforce development initiatives
- aligning international promotion and cooperation activities
- advancing joint research and development frameworks
Officials from all 3 countries will also meet to outline actionable steps to achieve the JSOI objectives, with follow-up meetings planned next year to track progress. An Industry Day on November 20 will further engage private-sector partners in this collaborative effort.
Since the 2024 memorandum of understanding, the 3 countries have built a strong foundation for partnership, including the US icebreaker fleet renewal initiative launched in October 2025, which involves Canadian and Finnish shipyards. The JSOI builds on this momentum, ensuring coordinated action and concrete progress on the ICE Pact vision.
