Ministers host delegation from 5 Wing Goose Bay

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Tom Lush and Ernie McLean, Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, recently met with the commanders of Allied nations training at 5 Wing Goose Bay in St. John's on June 21 - 22 to discuss ongoing military training at the base and the opportunities for new activities.

Ministers Lush and McLean met with Colonel Paul McCabe, Commanding Officer of 5 Wing Goose Bay; Lieutenant-Colonel Ko�n F. Nobbe, Royal Netherlands Air Force Detachment Commander; Lieutenant-Colonel Helmut Schelchshorn, German Air Force Detachment Commander; Lieutenant-Colonel Stefano Tubi, Italian Air Force.

Key discussion items included the integration of new training opportunities at the base, infrastructure requirements, research opportunities with the Institute for Environmental Monitoring and Research and other issues of provincial interest.

In meetings with the Allies, Minister Lush reiterated the importance of continuing the effective and cooperative relationship that has been forged between the province and the Allied nations training at Goose Bay. He also discussed recent meetings he had in Ottawa with federal ministers Brian Tobin, St�phane Dion and Arthur Eggleton on defence issues related to 5 Wing Goose Bay.

"The province acknowledges the important contribution the Allies bring to the province and, as a government we are committed to providing maximum benefits for the investment the Allied nations make in Labrador," said Minister Lush. "We will continue to work with the federal Department of National Defence to bring new environmentally sanctioned training activities to 5 Wing Goose Bay."

Minister McLean talked about the important contribution 5 Wing Goose Bay makes to the Newfoundland and Labrador economy, especially the local economy in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. 
"The military training program at 5 Wing Goose Bay contributes approximately $90 million to the province annually," said Minister McLean. "We recognize the financial contribution of the base and it is our goal to work with the Department of National Defence to develop new training opportunities so that these Allied nations will continue to regard Goose Bay as an opportune place to train beyond the expiration of the current MOU in 2006."

More than 8,000 air crew and ground crew from Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and France are expected to train at Goose Bay during the 2001 flying season.

Ministers Lush and McLean are expected to attend the Allies Appreciation festivities in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in August.

Media contacts: Tansy Mundon, Intergovernmental Affairs, (709) 729-1341
                        Bert Pomeroy, Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, (709) 896-8668.

2001 06 28                                                        10:20 a..m.