Prime Minister Mark Carney announced more than $1 billion in new spending for 5th Canadian Support Base Gagetown at an announcement in Halifax on Thursday, as part of Ottawa’s plan to rebuild the Canadian military.
It comes as Canada meets the NATO spending target of two per cent of gross domestic product, with more than $63 billion allocated — the largest year-over-year increase to Canada’s defence spending in generations, according to a statement Carney.
He said more than $3 billion of that is being spent across Atlantic Canada with infrastructure and defence-related projects.
“In New Brunswick we’re investing more than a billion dollars in CFB Gagetown to recapitalize our primary army training area, introduce new ground-based air defence systems, and ensure our soldiers train on infrastructure built for the next century,” Carney said.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, an additional $20.2 million will be spent on personnel support services for Canadian Armed Forces members as they transition to civilian life.
Carney announces more than $1B for N.B. military base upgrades
Base Gagetown is the second largest public-sector employer after the province itself, and third largest overall employer after Irving companies, with about 6,500 military members and 1,000 civilians.
“We’re upgrading our transition centres in the province for CAF members and their families. Because every member of our Forces deserves a safe, high-quality place to call home.”
Lt.-Col. Adam Siokalo, the deputy base commander, said the influx of people is already being felt.
“There are more people coming through in a transient nature, so for training,” he said.
“But there are also people that are going to be posted here into the area to support that training on the base. We’re estimating that over the next decade ,there could be up to an additional 2,000 soldiers posted to CFB Gagetown.”
Jean-Claude D’Amours, the provincial minister responsible for military affairs, said he’s already been in discussions about additional housing, health care and education requirements.
“Our job is just to make sure that when there’s a transition of a member of the force to New Brunswick … it’s as seamless as possible,” he said.
“We did ask if it was possible to know in advance who’s coming, … if they have kids, if the spouse is looking for a job.”
D’Amours said he’s working in collaboration with the base commander to anticipate the needs of the members moving to the area, to ensure the community services and supports will be ready for them.
In Nova Scotia, Carney said there will be targeted spending to modernize critical infrastructure, build new facilities to support the next generation of naval and air fleets, and expand training and operational capacity.
That includes $1.2 billion to be spent at CFB Halifax Dockyard and Stadacona, as well as $648 million to construct two new aviation support facilities at 14 Wing Greenwood.
Another $180 million will be spent building the Combatant Training and Integration Centre for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future river-class destroyers.
