Parliamentary secretary to represent province at meeting with Prime Minister

John Hickey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labrador Affairs and MHA for Lake Melville, is representing the provincial government at a meeting with Prime Minister Paul Martin this afternoon to discuss the future viability of foreign military training at 5 Wing Goose Bay.

Premier Danny Williams discussed the issue with the Prime Minister on Sunday (January 18) in advance of today�s meeting. It was also one of the items he raised when he met with the Prime Minister in December 2003, and in a separate meeting with the Minister of National Defence.

Mr. Hickey said he will reinforce with the Prime Minister the priority the provincial government places on this issue, and as well as on the work that must be expedited to ensure that military operations there continue.

Mr. Hickey is accompanying the Goose Bay Citizen�s Coalition delegation from Labrador when they meet with the Prime Minister.

In 2006, Canada�s Memorandum of Understanding with Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy for a foreign military flight training program at Goose Bay will expire. Already, the training partners have reduced their training and personnel there.

"The expiry of the MOU in two years demands that action be taken in a timely and expeditious manner to ensure that 5 Wing Goose Bay is well positioned to meet future foreign military training requirements," Mr. Hickey said, noting that training partners are already planning for their 2006 training season and beyond.

He said the province is very keen on working with the federal government to address the future viability of 5 Wing Goose Bay, including participating in initiatives to aggressively market the base to European countries.

Media contact: Alex Marland, Communications (709) 729-3733

2004 01 19                                        4:25 p.m.