14 Wing Greenwood, NS
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Men and women of the Canadian Forces,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for your warm welcome.
What a delight to visit the Annapolis Valley and the people of 14 Wing Greenwood again today.
The Canadian military is an integral part of this region and it has been since the days of the Second World War.
Greenwood was a fundamental part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Thousands of British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian airmen receive training before they were deployed overseas.
I know that people from the Greenwood community have always been proud of their military.
I’m sure that it’s with great admiration that they see the work that’s being done today at 14 Wing Greenwood…
where our men and women in uniform train…
where they exercise to meet the high expectations that Canadians have for their service at home and abroad.
And I can proudly say that our men and women here are meeting those challenges…
…conducting vital search and rescue operations that save lives…
…carrying out important surveillance and sovereignty missions along our Atlantic and Arctic coasts.
…Or serving in Afghanistan and operating Canadian Forces unmanned aerial vehicles.
We, as politicians, also have a responsibility: to to see that the men and women who protect us have the proper facilities and support…
…that they have the tools and training they need to carry out their work as safely and effectively as possible.
That includes renewing the facilities at bases and wings across the country, because having the right infrastructure is essential to the functioning of a modern military.
It’s why I was in Trenton, Ontario, and Cold Lake, Alberta, a few days ago.
And it’s why I’m in Greenwood today.
I want to tell you about some important infrastructure investments the Government of Canada has planned for this region.
We’re investing more than $66 million to enhance conditions for those of you living and working here…
…and bring economic activity and jobs to Greenwood and the surrounding communities.
These projects are part of a much larger plan.
Under our Government’s Canada First Defence Strategy, National Defence is planning to replace or refurbish 25 percent of its existing infrastructure over ten years. We plan to replace or refurbish half of all infrastructure over the next 20 years.
National Defence holds a lot of property: 21-thousand buildings, over 2 million hectares of land, and thousands of kilometres of roads, sewers, and power lines.
This year I have had the privilege of criss-crossing the country - visiting bases from Victoria, British Columbia to Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador - to bring good news about how this government is investing in our military infrastructure.
But infrastructure is only one of four areas where we’re making strategic investments under the Canada First Defence Strategy.
Along with investments in personnel, equipment and readiness, the Government has committed $490 billion over 20‑years in the Canada First Defence Strategy.
Our goal is a first-class, modern military, ready to take on the challenges of the 21st century.
And as our Government invests heavily in the Canadian Forces, we’re also providing opportunities for local companies and creating jobs in communities across Canada.
Over two-thousand civilians and military personnel work at 14 Wing.
And each year the Department of National Defence contributes $22 million directly into this region’s economy.
The infrastructure work we’re moving ahead with here at Greenwood will generate some 360 direct employment opportunities over the course of the work.
Greenwood will benefit from five separate projects aimed at building new facilities and upgrading existing holdings to bolster military capabilities.
These projects include the construction of:
a two-storey facility to house new medical, dental and mental health services for the Wing community;
a refuelling tender garage to store and maintain airport refuellers; and,
a new fire hall.
I announced the launch of these three projects two years ago and I’m here to tell you that they’re moving ahead and how they will generate economic benefits for the region.
A contract has been awarded to Marco Maritimes Inc. of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, for the building of the fire hall.
As you can see behind me, construction has started, and the work is expected to be completed by next summer.
Another project that we are announcing today is the building of an equipment storage facility to support day-to-day operations of our strategic maritime surveillance Aurora and Arcturus aircraft.
Construction of this new facility began last spring and is expected to be completed over the coming months.
A contract has been awarded for phase II of the project to Roscoe Construction Limited of Cambridge, Nova Scotia.
Finally, we’re also investing in structural, mechanical and electrical modifications to Hangar 14, which is used by 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron.
For this last project, National Defence has awarded a contract to PCL Constructors Canada, who operate out of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
All these new or renovated facilities will help provide the modern infrastructure that our airmen and women deserve.
They will help keep Canadian Forces personnel safe and healthy as they go about their work and training.
These investments by our government are bringing tens of millions of dollars to the local economy, putting people to work now building a better CF and a better future.
Conclusion
Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m pleased to be the bearer of such good news for everyone here - military personnel and civilian workers and all of you who have joined us from the community.
All this infrastructure activity - not just in Greenwood, but throughout the country - is great news for our men and women in the Canadian Forces.
It means better accommodations, better training and operational facilities, and having the new infrastructure our military needs to house and service new equipment.
It’s also terrific news for all of those Canadian communities whose economies are benefiting from new business opportunities.
Along with our investments in equipment, our infrastructure initiatives are helping Canadian companies establish solid foundations…
…and better position themselves to develop the top quality defence products and services our military needs
That means thousands of high quality job opportunities for Canadians.
And that’s especially important during these challenging economic times.
As Minister of National Defence, I’m proud that these projects will help not only the Canadian Forces, but also local economies. Thank you.
