December 16, 1997
(MHA)

The following is being distributed by Sandra Kelly, MHA - Gander:

Sandra Kelly, MHA - Gander, met with senior Department of National Defence (DND) officials to discuss the proposal to conduct an Alternative Service Delivery (ASD) process at CFB/9 Wing Gander. Minister Kelly was joined by representatives of the Town of Gander, Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce, Gander Worldwide Inc., the Gander International Airport Authority and the Zone 14 Economic Development Board.

DND is planning to apply its ASD process to the delivery of "non-core" support services at seven bases across Canada, including CFB Gander. ASD is part of a DND strategy to allow the military to focus on its core mandate, by examining innovative ways to deliver support services other than by uniformed personnel. ASD options may include partnering arrangements, in-house delivery, commercialization, or privatization. DND recently applied its ASD process to CFB/5 Wing Goose Bay, and announced on December 12 that Serco Ltd. has won the competition to provide support services at that base.

"I was pleased to receive assurances from DND that CFB Gander is not in danger of being closed," Minister Kelly said. " I was also relieved to learn that Search and Rescue will continue to be delivered by military personnel at Gander. Search and Rescue services will not be subject to the Gander ASD process."

Minister Kelly said it was useful to get a briefing from DND officials on how ASD works and how it might be applied to Gander. However, she said that questions remain which she hopes to have addressed in a meeting with the Minister of National Defence, Arthur Eggleton.

"I have contacted Minister Eggleton's office today to arrange a meeting with him at the earliest opportunity. I have already asked that the decision to proceed with ASD be put on hold, and I have not been convinced as to why Gander should be subjected to another cost reduction exercise. The budget at CFB Gander has been cut by more than half in recent years, and Gander residents have already shouldered more than their fair share of cuts. The minimal savings DND might find in the existing Base operation would not, in my opinion, justify the upheaval and uncertainty ASD would bring.

"I will be asking Minister Eggleton to remove Gander from the current ASD process, on the understanding that, at minimum, the base will not be subject to cutbacks through other means. Instead, we should be focusing on opportunities to enhance military activity in the area, through Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) training, cadet training, spin-offs from the planned deployment of new Search and Rescue helicopters, and increasing the Reserve presence. The base needs a stable budget if we are to have an opportunity to attract new military activity."

Minister Kelly also said she will be contacting Newfoundland and Labrador's regional minister, Fred Mifflin, and Gander-Grand Falls MP George Baker to make them aware of her concerns.

Contact: Audrey Miller (709) 729-0692.