[3] By 2013 the project was again being discussed as the result of a proposal made by the Thales (DCNS) to provide the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship design.
SNC Lavalin proposed to construct the vessels, while DCNS would design them and STX France would consolidate the hulls for arctic operations.
In 2005 Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier and Director of Maritime Requirements, Captain (N) Peter Ellis told the Standing Committee on National Defence in the House of Commons that the Canadian Forces required strategic sealift capacity for operations in the 21st century.
[8] According to the Direction générale de l'Armement (DGA), as well as the French newspaper La Tribune, the Royal Canadian Navy had shown "strong interest" in purchasing two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships from France.
The Canadian Alliance Party had issued a call for procuring four "support / amphibious ships, at least one dedicated helicopter / light carrier".
Forster cited how the purchase and operating costs of the vessels would stress resources on the already over budget $39 billion National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.