ERC, I don't think that the entry of Davie "complicates" the matter.
I know that many reporters like to point out that Davie was not selected or lost out in the selection process of the NCSS. But that simply is not true. At the time of the selection competition, Davie did not apply. It was under bankruptcy protection.
After the yard was acquired by European interests, it tried a last minute effort to be considered for the non-combatants work only, but its participation was denied as too late.
That was now three or four years ago. Did you see davie "bitchin", making threats to the government on a political level, sending letters or stating it would resort to the courts? No. They did not qualify and for them that was the end of it.
Now, three years later, with the program for non-combatants suffering delays and the decrepitude of the Navy's AOR's forcing their retirement, Davie makes a proposal for an interim solution to the government. This solution is completely outside of the NCSS.
So who comes in complaining? Irving. Already the biggest winner of the NCSS, and complaining about work that belongs to Seaspan anyway - who is not itself complaining. And what is their complaint? I re-read very carefully their letter to the ministers: They are not complaining that they could not put forth a proposal. They did put one out there. It was rejected after analysis. What they are complaining about is that the reason(s) for their project not being accepted was not explained to them. That is their sole beef, and they are now trying to use that excuse to get the new government to completely re-open the matter and give them a second crack at getting that work. Talk about whinny brats.
Personally, if that is the way Irving wants to play and I was Davie, I would take the opportunity of any "review" of the NCSS to go out, get an existing modern and up to date design for a destroyer/frigate, make a good costing of it and go to the government and lobby to say: "Look, Irving is screwing you on the costs side. I can do this for about 2/3 of their price". But that's just me, I have been known to hold a grudge.