Historical Background

The federal government has been providing icebreaking services in Canadian waters since 1873 when Prince Edward Island stipulated year-round ferry service to the mainland as a condition for entry into Confederation. In 1876, the Department of Marine and Fisheries ordered a specially built steam icebreaker called the Northern Light - 401 tonnes (t), 89.5 kilowatts (kw). Other icebreakers followed - in 1888, the Stanley (932 t, 1716 kw) and in 1899, the Minto (110 t, 2163 kw).

In the St. Lawrence River, the formation of icebarriers or dams in the narrow points of the river was causing annual winter flooding. In 1904, Champlain (532 t, 534 kw) and Montcalm (1406 t, 2686 kw) were purchased from Scotland to alleviate the flooding by breaking up the ice at strategic locations in the river and keeping the ice moving down the deepest channels.

In the early 1920's, regular Arctic patrols by icebreakers during the short summer navigation season were initiated to respond to a number of needs, including the re-supply of isolated outposts, provision of services to native settlements and in a broader sense, to back up Canada's claims to sovereignty over the Arctic archipelago. During the 1930's, the port of Churchill was opened for grain export shipment through Hudson Bay, requiring icebreaker services at the beginning and end of each season.