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Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
Executive Council
July 24, 2007

Province Reminds Federal Government of Commitment to 5-Wing Goose Bay

The Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Transportation and Works and the Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, said he is holding the Federal Government to its commitments regarding enhanced military presence at 5-Wing Goose Bay.

�My message to Ottawa is simple, don�t forget your promise to 5-Wing Goose and the people of Labrador. We haven�t,� said Minister Hickey. �We will hold Defence Minister Gordon O�Connor�s feet to the fire on this one, you can rest assured.�

Minister Hickey�s comments come in response to a recent announcement that the Federal Government will form a new air expeditionary wing at 3-Wing Bagotville, Quebec consisting of up to 550 personnel, along with associated investments of up to $300 million. As well, on July 12, the Federal Government announced a $121 million investment at 19-Wing Comox, British Columbia. Like 5-Wing Goose Bay, both of these bases were promised new personnel by the Federal Conservative Party during the 2006 federal election campaign. Current Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised the Federal Government would station a 650-person, rapid response team at 5-Wing, promote the base internationally as a training area and establish a long-range Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron.

�We remain hopeful that there will be some good news from the Federal Government regarding 5-Wing Goose in the near future,� said Minister Hickey. �I look forward to welcoming Minister O�Connor to 5-Wing to make an announcement, just as he has done recently at other bases that were promised additional personnel during the last election campaign.�

The Honourable John Ottenheimer, Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, also expects the fulfillment of the Federal Government�s commitment. �I have met with Minister O�Connor and explained to him the significance of these commitments to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. I received his assurance that the Federal Government will deliver upon its election commitments and I look forward to seeing more troops on the ground at 5-Wing, along with the promised new Territorial Defence Battalion, consisting of approximately 100 regular force personnel and 400 reserve personnel, at Canadian Forces Station St. John�s.�

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Media contacts:

David Salter
Director of Communications
Labrador Affairs
709-729-3015, 691-3577
davidsalter@gov.nl.ca
 
Ken Morrissey
Communications Specialist
Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat
709-729-6026, 690-0525
kenmorrissey@gov.nl.ca
 

2007 07 24                                     3:05 p.m.


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