Defence Minister Anita Anand visits 5 Wing Goose Bay and highlights NORAD modernization
News release
August 24, 2022 – Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand and General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), visited 5 Wing Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, where they met with members of the Canadian Armed Forces stationed at the base, and thanked them for their important work and dedication to protecting Canada. The Minister and the CDS were joined by Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador.
During her visit to CFB Goose Bay, Minister Anand received briefings on 5 Wing operations and toured the base. Strategically placed to protect North American airspace, 5 Wing Goose Bay conducts and supports a wide variety of operations, including both joint and combined training, with a primary focus on supporting The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations. The Minister spent time at the Military Family Resource Centre where she had the opportunity to meet with Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel and their families. Minister Anand thanked CAF members for the important contribution they make to Canada’s safety and security, and recognized the important role that families play in supporting our military members.
Minister Anand highlighted that 5 Wing Goose Bay is one of four northern locations that will receive basing upgrades through infrastructure investments under Canada’s NORAD modernization plan. As announced by Minister Anand in June, Canada will invest $38.6 billion over twenty years on an accrual basis to modernize the Canadian NORAD capabilities that protect North America and keep all Canadians safe. Of this funding, $15.68 billion is allocated for investments in new infrastructure and support capabilities across Canada, which will include funding for upgrades to air operations infrastructure at 5 Wing Goose Bay. These upgrades will enable Canada to better deploy and sustain operations across the country, including in the North – enhancing Canada’s ability to defend our sovereignty and contribute to North American security.
Additionally, investments in NORAD will generate significant economic benefits and create jobs for Canadians across Canada including Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as in the North. Minister Anand stressed the importance of ongoing and meaningful engagement with Indigenous and Northern governments and organizations, which is critical for advancing reconciliation, and for the implementation of NORAD modernization.
At a time when autocratic regimes are threatening the rules-based international order and new, advanced weapons technologies are being developed by competitors, there is a strong need to modernize NORAD, the binational military command Canada shares with the United States that has kept Canadians safe for over 60 years. NORAD modernization is a long-term project, which will help ensure the Canadian Armed Forces’ ability to protect Canadians against new and emerging military threats.
Quotes
“5 Wing Goose Bay is a vibrant base at the heart of the Labrador community. I am thrilled that that 5 Wing Goose Bay will be one of four northern locations to receive infrastructure upgrades over the next twenty years, through Canada’s plan to modernize NORAD. These significant investments in Goose Bay will create jobs and provide economic opportunities for the people of Labrador, and help ensure the continued ability of the Canadian Armed Forces to protect our country.”
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence
“The announcement of infrastructure upgrades at 5 Wing Goose Bay is fantastic news for Labrador. This investment is yet another example of the federal government’s commitment to creating jobs and growth in our province. NORAD modernization will create tremendous opportunities for Canadian industry, and we will ensure that Indigenous and Northern owned-businesses benefit from these investments, throughout the supply chain. I thank the personnel at 5 Wing Goose Bay for their service and look forward to seeing the impacts of these investments in our community.”
Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador
Quick facts
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In addition to infrastructure and support capabilities, other areas of focus for NORAD modernization investment include surveillance systems to detect threats earlier and more precisely, modern and secure technology that support timely decision-making, air weapons systems to detect and defeat aerospace threats, and creating a science and technology defence program to develop the capabilities of the future.
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In summer 2021, the Minister of National Defence and the United States Secretary of Defense released the Joint Statement on NORAD Modernization, which specified priority areas for new investments – including to upgrade and modernize infrastructure to support NORAD operations in our northern and Arctic regions.
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Based on the principles outlined in the Joint Statement, Minister Anand announced Canada’s plan to modernize NORAD on June 20, 2022.
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With dedicated funding of $38.6 billion over the next twenty years on an accrual basis, this is the most significant upgrade to Canadian NORAD capabilities in almost four decades.
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The Department of National Defence has a 5 per cent Indigenous procurement target and will continue to seek out opportunities for greater collaboration with Indigenous-owned businesses.
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The airfield location of 5 Wing Goose bay was selected in 1941 by Canada and the United States due to accessibility to the sea during the summer months and its overall strategic location.
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5 Wing Goose Bay’s primary mission is to support NORAD operations for the projection of air power on the north and northeast coasts of Canada, and it also provides effective training facilities, adaptable infrastructures, and a unique location for challenging exercises.
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Contacts
Daniel Minden
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Email: daniel.minden@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
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