Amid a flurry of last minute senate and judicial appointments, the Liberal government quietly announced Saturday it has signed an $8 billion implementation contract for the construction of the Royal Canadian Navy's new destroyers.

It is only the first step in the long-delayed process to replace the navy's aging frigates and the contract with Nova Scotia's Irving Shipbuilding is essentially a downpayment on only three of the highly sophisticated warships.

The eventual price tag for the trio of des…