Quebec, Aug. 25 -- Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Monday the "largest" shipbuilding contract in Quebec's history, with investment more than C$11 billion ($7.9 billion) to build six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard at Chantier Davie Canada Inc.

All six icebreakers will be built at Davie's shipyard in Levis, creating nearly 5,000 jobs during construction and contributing nearly $650 million annually to Canada's gross domestic product.

Under the government's Buy Canadian Policy, the vessels will use Canadian steel and other domestic materials, while the project will create opportunities for Canadian manufacturers, suppliers and small and medium-sized businesses.

The new icebreakers will replace the Coast Guard's agein...