Infrastructure and Environment

Contaminated Sites

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• Historical activities at many Canadian Armed Forces’ bases and wings have left a legacy of environmental contamination. With support from the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, National Defence is cleaning up its highest risk sites.
• Since 2005-06, National Defence has received over $657 million in the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan remediation funds, including:
  • $118.2 million for the Goose Bay Remediation Project, Happy Valley, NL.
• At 8 Wing Trenton:
  • $2.2 million on the Fire Fighting Training Area/Hazardous Materials Storage remediation project;
  • $2.6 million on the Aerospace and Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron Refinishing Facility remediation project;
  • $3.4 million on the Hangers 5 and 6 remediation project;
  • $105.9 million on the Distant Early Warning Line site DYE-Main, Cape Dyer, NU and;
  • $29.8 million on the A/B Jetty Remediation Project, Esquimalt Harbour, BC.
• National Defence has identified ten priority sites:

Class 1 DND Contaminated Sites

	Name	Prov
1	Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project	BC
2	Goose Bay Remediation Project	NL
3	TCE (Trichloroethylene) Valcartier Project	QC
4	Stony Point (Former Camp Ipperwash)	ON
5	Distant Early Warning Line - Cape Dyer Main	NU
6	Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, Royal Roads Landfill	AB
7	Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Hangars 5 & 6	ON
8	Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, Petroleum Oil & Lubricants Tank Farm	QC
9	Brevoort Island, BAF-3 Petroleum Oil & Lubricants (POL) Storage Facility	NU
10	Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, DockYard-4 - Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Consolidation	BC

Allegations that Agent Orange Remains Buried on Canadian Armed Forces Bases

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Allegations that Agent Orange Remains Buried on CAF Bases

• In June 1966 and June 1967, small-scale testing of various defoliants, including Agent Orange, took place over a small portion Canadian Forces Base Gagetown.
• In 1984, National Defence uncovered a chemical container disposal area near the base’s dump, excavating a total of 666 barrels from the area. None of these barrels had markings indicating they contained Agent Orange. The dump is now part of an environmental monitoring program that is designed to mitigate risks to human health and the environment.
• During a 2005-2007 fact finding initiative regarding Agent Orange, Canadian Forces Base Gagetown conducted a barrel investigation to determine if buried drums containing hazardous chemicals were present on its lands. They found no evidence of submerged chemical drums.
• On May 23, 2018, a former military police officer at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, brought forth new claims of the disposal of Agent Orange barrels at the base in 1985. MRS Management Ltd. and Gemtec Consulting Engineers and Scientists Ltd. conducted an exhaustive investigation to address the claims. Their investigation included an aerial geomagnetic survey, ground surveys, and targeted digs. These third-party investigators did not find any barrels or proof of Agent Orange.

Move of National Defence Headquarters

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• The relocation of National Defence Headquarters and other National Defence offices to Carling Campus will reduce the number of defence property locations in the National Capital Region from 40 to 28. As part of a federal commitment to maintain a 25% footprint in Quebec, some buildings will be retained.
• Approximately 9,300 members of the Defence Team, both civilian and military, will move to the Campus. Some units which have unique security, technical or strategic requirements will not move to the Campus.
• The Deputy Minister and the Chief of the Defence Staff will be able to work from both downtown and Carling Campus.
• Organizations within the Minister of National Defence’s portfolio, which operate at arms-length, will also remain in off-site locations.

National Defence Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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• The Government of Canada outlined its targets for a low-carbon government in the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. As the Government of Canada’s largest owner and operator of equipment and infrastructure, National Defence has taken concrete actions to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
• Infrastructure: National Defence has invested $165 million in green infrastructure.
• Buildings: National Defence requires all new constructions and major recapitalization projects to meet industry recognized standards for high performing buildings, such as the Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard or equivalent. Since 2017, 10 new buildings meet this LEED standard.
• Non-Military Vehicles: National Defence aims to transition reach 30% of its light duty vehicle fleet to hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and/or electric by March 2020. To date, National Defence has transitioned 27% of these vehicles. In order to charge these vehicles, 43 charging stations have been installed at bases and wings across Canada.
• Energy: National Defence is expanding the use of energy performance contracts to implement energy efficiencies on bases and wings across Canada. For example, 90% of electrical consumption at bases and wings in Alberta now comes from green or renewable sources.

Response to the Discovery of Unexploded Ordnance

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• Unexploded explosive ordnance are military munitions that have not exploded or have malfunctioned. Unexploded explosive ordnance are present at former military sites across Canada. Many of these sites were used for training and weapons testing during conflicts such as the World Wars and the Korean War.
• In 2005, National Defence established the Unexploded Explosive Ordnance Program to manage risks associated with these sites. Program activities include: risk assessments at each site; risk mitigation through education, property control, assessment surveys, and clearance operations; database maintenance; and a Canada-wide risk awareness communication and education strategy.
  • To date, National Defence has committed $133.5 million to the Program. National Defence conducts thorough site surveys where the presence of unexploded ordnance is suspected using a variety of technologies capable of detecting ordnance on land and under water.
  • The Program also delivers presentations to students in specific communities where children have an elevated probability of encountering unexploded ordnance.
  • In June 2019, Royal Canadian Navy divers recovered 82 unexploded ordnance following a sweep of four submerged vessels off the coast of Bell Island, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Claims From the City of Quebec and the Huronwendat for Lands Being Divested by National Defence

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Details Evaluating Properties for Potential Transfer or Sale

• Before making a final decision on whether to retain, transfer, or sell a property, National Defence considers:
  • The use of the property in supporting Canadian Armed Forces operations and readiness;
  • The non-operational value to serving military members and their family (i.e., morale and welfare);
  • The use of the property by the local community;
  • The potential future use by, in order of priority, Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments, and the Canadian public (including public sector, Indigenous groups, etc.).

Former Military Housing Area In Sainte-Foy, Québec City

• In 2016, the Department of National Defence consolidated its military housing in the Valcartier area. As a result, the former military housing units in Sainte-Foy have been unoccupied for many years. Their condition is no longer suitable for use.
• As a result, National Defence completed the demolition of these buildings prior to considering the sale or transfer of this parcel of land in February 2019.
• The former military housing area in Sainte-Foy is considered to be of strategic importance. The current Treasury Board Directive on the Sale or Transfer of Surplus Real Property requires National Defence to follow a strategic disposal process, which includes the following:
  • Custodians shall develop a balanced disposal strategy for strategic surplus properties that is supported by a comprehensive assessment stakeholder interests (including those of official language minority communities), the legal risk analysis, and policy and financial considerations.
  • They shall also develop a business case that is further supported by the valuation, determined in accordance with the Treasury Board Appraisal and Estimates Standard for Real Property, and by a business plan from Canada Lands Company CLC Limited.
• Given this Government’s commitment to the Affordable Housing Strategy, National Defence is working closely with Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation.
• In February 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Chief Konrad Sioui of the Huron-Wendat Nation, stating that the Divestment of the Ste-Foy lands will continue according to standard Government practices.

Restoration of the Québec City Citadelle

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Details Restoration of the Citadelle

• National Defence works in collaboration with Parks Canada and follows federal restoration protocols as part of all of its heritage building restorations. This includes the restoration of the Citadelle.

Selection of Stone for the Restoration

• The quarries used to supply the original construction of the Citadelle are no longer active. Therefore, there is no “original” stone available to undertake current day restoration work. As a result, contractors have used other similar stones of various origins, which meet Government technical and heritage specifications.
• The general contractor, Maçonnerie Rainville et Frères Inc., first selected American sandstones (Pennsylvania Bluestone) for phase one of the project. The contractor is now using Sillery sandstone, sourced from a local quarry near Lévis, Québec, for phase two and three of the project.
• In February 2019, members of the public submitted a petition requesting the use of “original” stone for the restoration of the Citadelle. National Defence’s response outlined that “original” stone is no longer available and that local stone is being used for the current and future phases of the project.

Requests for Public Access to Nanaimo Rifle Range Lands

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Details the Nanaimo Rifle Range

• The Royal Canadian Navy operates the Nanaimo Rifle Range for training which can occur during the day, night, and on weekends.
• The Nanaimo Rifle Range is of significant importance to the Canadian Armed Forces as it is the only firing range in British Columbia that can support the full range of weapons qualifications training.

Trespassing and Vandalism on Nanaimo Rifle Range Lands

• The Nanaimo Range is a controlled access military training area that has experienced an increased occurrence of trespassing in recent years.
• Due partly to its proximity to Morrell Nature Sanctuary and other popular outdoor recreational sites, the controlled access area near the northern section of the range has been regularly accessed by running groups, mountain bikers, hiking clubs, and users of all-terrain vehicles.
• In response, the Canadian Armed Forces has placed several cement barriers at known illegal access points, and has improved signage and fencing around the Range.
• The Range has also experienced increased vandalism, whereby barriers and signage have been damaged or stolen. As a result, the Canadian Armed Forces has repaired damaged and broken infrastructure at the Range.

Requests for Public Access or Relocation

• Members of the public have submitted three petitions in the last session of Parliament asking National Defence to establish a schedule for public access to the range and to order a feasibility study of range relocation to a less populated site. National Defence’s response indicated that there is no safe time to access the range and that there are no plans to relocate the Range.
• The Canadian Armed Forces is currently implementing a public engagement plan to emphasize the unsafe nature of trespassing, to increase awareness of the importance of the range Canadian Armed Forces training, and to improve the overall relationship with the local community.

Indigenous Relations

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Indigenous Relations

• National Defence has a legal duty to consult with Indigenous groups and provide appropriate accommodation when contemplating activities that may have an impact on Aboriginal or treaty rights.
• Activities that could trigger the duty to consult include military operations, exercises off base, real property transactions, construction, demolition, environmental remediation, and procurement.

Supporting Reconciliation

• National Defence also supports reconciliation with Indigenous groups by:
  • Participating, as required, in federal treaty negotiations with Indigenous groups o Working directly with Indigenous groups to address issues (e.g. environmental remediation, land access, consultation, and procurement)
  • Cooperating with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, provincial and municipal partners
  • Engaging in Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination tables, which have been established to allow the opportunity to consult with Indigenous groups, and discuss their interests and concerns outside the established treaty process
  • Implementing obligations that have been agreed to in treaties with Indigenous groups
  • National Defence supports economic development of Indigenous communities through the Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business.
  • National Defence also undertakes UXO clearance on Indigenous lands under the Legacy Sites Program. As well, National Defence provides UXO training support to some Indigenous communities to allow for employment and economic development opportunities.

Kapyong Barracks

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• The Kapyong Barracks site is comprised of approximately 160 acres of land and 40 buildings in Winnipeg. It was declared surplus in 2001 and was vacated in 2004. In 2007, Treasury Board approved the sale of the Kapyong Barracks site to Canada Lands Company.
• After Treasury Board approved the sale, Treaty One First Nations brought an application for judicial review of that approval, arguing that National Defence had not adequately consulted with them about the disposal of the site. Between 2008 and 2015, the disposal was the subject of litigation by the Treaty One First Nations, ending in 2015 with a decision of the Federal Court of Appeal that found that National Defence had not met its duty to consult.
• Since January 2012, confidential and without prejudice discussions have been taking place with the Treaty One First Nations to reach an agreement for the sale of future use of the Kapyong Barracks lands.
• On April 11, 2018, Canada signed an Agreement in Principle with Treaty One First Nations regarding the Kapyong Barracks.
• On August 30, 2019, Canada and the Treaty One First Nations signed a Comprehensive Settlement Agreement, based on the shared understandings outlined in the April 2018 Agreement in Principle. The agreement outlines the terms to sell 68% of the Kapyong Barracks land to the Treaty One First Nations. The remaining 32% of the property will be sold through a separate agreement to the Canada Lands Company CLC Limited for redevelopment.
• The Treaty One First Nations intend to develop a joint urban reserve on the former Kapyong Barracks lands. This is expected to provide ongoing benefits to the Treaty One First Nations through economic and employment opportunities.
• National Defence is providing funding of $3.41 million to the Treaty One First Nations, through Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada’s Strategic Partnerships Initiative program, for fiscal years 2018-19 and 2019-20 to support their negotiations with Canada and enable them to begin the technical planning needed for longer term economic development and reserve creation.
• National Defence is demolishing onsite infrastructure at Kapyong Barracks to reduce the dangers associated with its deteriorating state and to allow for potential future redevelopment of the site.

Indigenous Affairs

• National Defence has a legal duty to consult with Indigenous groups and to accommodate when contemplating activities that may have an impact on Indigenous and treaty rights.
• Activities that could trigger the duty to consult include military operations, exercises off base, real property transactions, construction, demolition, environmental remediation, and procurement.

Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) Judicial Review

• On October 1, 2019 the Manitoba Metis Federation filed an Application of Judicial Review requesting that the Court set aside the disposal of the former Kapyong Barracks land between Canada and the Treaty One First Nations.
• The court granted a joint Canada and Manitoba Metis Federation request to put the Application for Judicial Review into abeyance for six months to allow the parties to continue discussions.
• National Defence and other federal departments continue to work with the Manitoba Metis Federation to accommodate their interests and resolve the issue.

Joint Task Force 2 Relocation

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• Joint Task Force 2 was created in 1993. Prior to that, the federal responsibility for hostage rescue and counterterrorism in Canada was with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Special Emergency Response Team. After the events of September 11, 2001, the unit was committed to the United States-led special operations forces coalition in Afghanistan. This deployment was the first time Joint Task Force 2 was used in a major combat role outside Canada.
• Joint Task Force 2 is an extremely high-readiness and precise special operations forces unit. The unit exists to protect the Canadian national interests and combat terrorism and threats to Canadians at home and abroad.
• In 2007, the Government announced that Joint Task Force 2 would relocate the Dwyer Hill Training Centre to 8 Wing in Trenton, Ontario. The decision made sense when considering the operational context at the time as the co-location with the airbase at Canadian Forces Base Trenton would have allowed for rapid deployments, both at home and during international missions.
• The Government negotiated with all the landowners, including Mr. Meyers, whose land was expropriated on May 29, 2012.
• The global security environment has changed considerably over the past decade, and the readiness and posture of the Special Forces must evolve to deal with these changing threats. Many of Canada’s allies have responded to this shift in the security environment by relocating their top-tier Special Forces units to within close proximity and rapid response time of their national capitals, and the rationale for doing so has proven increasingly convincing.