Under mounting political pressure, the minority Liberal government reversed itself yesterday and agreed to a parliamentary investigation into the fatal fire aboard HMCS Chicoutimi.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Paul Martin has delayed plans to travel abroad so that he can be in Halifax tomorrow for the return of the body of crew member Lieutenant Chris Saunders.
Defence Minister Bill Graham announced he would meet next week with his counterpart in the British government, which is running the rescue operation for Chicoutimi, one of four problem-plagued submarines Canada bought from Britain.
The meeting with British Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon had already been in the works, but Mr. Graham said it now becomes an opportunity to thank the British for towing Chicoutimi to safety and to discuss problems with the used former Royal Navy subs.
Ottawa has not ruled out seeking compensation from Britain.
Mr. Graham appeared to be taking a different tack on the crisis. After scoffing Thursday at the idea that MPs were qualified to investigate the incident, he said yesterday that "of course the government will co-operate completely with parliamentary committees" that may choose to investigate the submarine program.
The opposition parties, which have far more control over committee business now that the Liberals have been reduced to a minority in the House, said they would press ahead with hearings into the submarine affair as a top priority at the standing committee on defence.
The navy itself will get first crack at trying to piece together what took place aboard Chicoutimi Tuesday when two fires erupted. The crew will be interviewed for a naval board of inquiry at the Royal Navy base at Faslane, Scotland, next week when Chicoutimi is brought in to port, said Commodore Tyrone Pile, the commander of the Canadian Atlantic fleet.
Conservatives pelted Mr. Martin and Mr. Graham with questions yesterday about whether Chicoutimi was seaworthy before it set sail, on its maiden voyage under a Canadian flag.
Tory MP Bill Casey said a declassified navy report shows urgent concern last year about the storage of emergency oxygen generators aboard the subs. Material used in the generators tended to ignite.
Mr. Graham said he did not know if anything was done to fix the problem. "I cannot speak to any specific equipment on board Chicoutimi."
A navy spokesman, Captain Bob Davidson, said later the report was written because of a storage problem for extra oxygen generators on board Chicoutimi's sister vessel, HMCS Victoria, during a voyage through the tropics last year.
The navy wants to have more of the generators on board the subs, but finding storage in tight quarters is a problem "and we haven't sorted that out yet," Capt. Davidson said.
Mr. Martin has delayed a trip to Europe next week so that he can attend a ceremony in Halifax tomorrow for the arrival of the body of navy Lt. Saunders, who died of smoke inhalation. Opposition party representatives and Mr. Graham, who plans to visit the Chicoutimi crew in Scotland next week, are also expected to attend the ceremony.
Chicoutimi is expected to arrive in Faslane early next week, but crew members won't be heading home for several days after that, Cmdre. Pile said in Halifax.
The submarine HMCS Windsor has been recalled to Halifax, and several of its crew will be sent to relieve the weary crew on Chicoutimi.
"Our first priority for the crew will be for them to get ashore for rest, a shower, a change of clothes and time to decompress," Cmdre. Pile said.
The first rotation of 21 sailors were taken off the submarine last night and put aboard the Royal Navy ship Montrose.
They will have to undergo thorough physical and mental examinations and may receive some counselling after the traumatic events of last week, he said.
The public mourning for Lt. Saunders began yesterday. The weekly chapel service at CFB Halifax, attended by past and present members of the submarine service and some of their families, was filled with prayers.
A full military funeral will be held in Halifax on Wednesday for Lt. Saunders, who was married with two very young children.
"It has been a long and difficult week, and more long days lie ahead for many of us," said Navy chaplain Lieutenant Wendy Kean, who led the service.
Lt. Kean said military personnel are often called to spend long periods of time away from their families and to learn difficult and sometimes unpleasant jobs.
"Many times we are given tasks we would never have chosen. Instead they are laid upon us for reasons we do not always understand, and sometimes we end up paying a heavy price," she said.
She praised the Chicoutimi crew for service and dedication.
"Their struggle and service is not confined to the events of the past few days but with all our submariners has extended back over the last few years, as they have made Canada's submarine service once more a proud reality."