CFB GAGETOWN, N.B. – The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of the Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, the Honourable Peter MacKay, today announced three infrastructure projects for CFB Gagetown. These projects will generate significant economic benefits for the local region, including direct employment opportunities over the course of the work.
The announcement represents an overall investment of more than $20 million and includes the extension of the existing Health Services Centre, the construction of a Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III training facility and the construction of a forward operating bivouac.
“Our Government – through our Canada First Defence Strategy – has developed the necessary framework to support a modern military that is well equipped to take on the challenges of the 21st century,” said Minister Thompson. “These investments in infrastructure not only benefit the Canadian Forces, but generate economic benefits in communities like ours across Canada.”
The first project announced today will deliver the required temporary infrastructure to support the integrated health services centre to provide continued quality care in Gagetown. The project will address the requirement for space dedicated to the Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) and administrative support. This project is part of an overall health service modernization program, Rx2000, which is improving the operational readiness of care and will deliver new and increased levels of service.
The second project involves the construction of a LAV III training and storage facility for the Combat Training Centre. This project includes the construction of new facility that will house 40 LAV III as well as provide space for instructors and small classrooms that will be used for training students of the Combat Training School. The facility will be divided into three specific areas for the Armour, Infantry and Artillery schools. This is part of the LAV III equipment project, which will provide the infrastructure support component to this Government’s recent
$1 billion investment in LAV III upgrades. This project illustrates the Government’s commitment to modernizing Canadian Forces equipment and infrastructure in an integrated fashion.
The third project announced today involves the construction of a forward operation bivouac in the CFB Gagetown training area. The permanent forward operation bivouac comes complete with tent pads, vehicle check points, artillery gun positions, an access road, perimeter security fencing and sentry positions, and is meant to simulate the conditions that soldiers may encounter when they are deployed. This will help train Combat Training Centre Students, the CFB Gagetown operation unit, as well as visiting units.
DND holds a large number of properties across the country to support the Canadian Forces, including some 21,000 buildings; 2.25 million hectares of land; 5,500 km of roads; and 3,000 km of water, storm and sewer pipes.
The Canada First Defence Strategy reflects a renewed commitment to domestic security and investments in defence infrastructure that generate economic benefits for Canadian industry.
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