Minister of Defence announces infrastructure investments at 5 Wing Goose Bay

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Under Canada’s NORAD modernization plan, one of four northern locations to be upgraded with infrastructure investments will be 5 Wing Goose Bay.

The Minister of National Defence, Anita Anand, made the announcement during her recent visit to the base.

Modernization of Canada’s NORAD Capabilities

Of the $38.6 billion being poured into the modernization of Canada’s NORAD capabilities over the next 20 years, $15.68 billion has been allocated for investments in new infrastructure and support capabilities across Canada.

This funding includes upgrades to air operations infrastructure at 5 Wing Goose Bay, according to a Department of National Defence (DND) press release.

“The announcement of infrastructure upgrades at 5 Wing Goose Bay is fantastic news for Labrador. This investment is yet another example of the federal government’s commitment to creating jobs and growth in our province. NORAD modernization will create tremendous opportunities for Canadian industry, and we will ensure that Indigenous and Northern owned-businesses benefit from these investments, throughout the supply chain. I thank the personnel at 5 Wing Goose Bay for their service and look forward to seeing the impacts of these investments in our community,” said Yvonne Jones, member of parliament for Labrador.

DND Minister Visits Labrador

On Wednesday, August 24, 2022, Minister Anand and Gen. Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, visited 5 Wing Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador.

They met with military members posted to the base and “thanked them for their important work and dedication protecting Canada,” stated a DND press release.

Her tour of the wing included visiting the Military Family Resource Centre, where she met with military members and their families, and briefings on 5 Wing operations. She acknowledged the contributions of CAF members and their families to keeping Canada safe.

Anand said, “5 Wing Goose Bay is a vibrant base at the heart of the Labrador community. I am thrilled that 5 Wing Goose Bay will be one of four northern locations to receive infrastructure upgrades over the next twenty years through Canada’s plan to modernize NORAD. These significant investments in Goose Bay will create jobs and provide economic opportunities for the people of Labrador, and help ensure the continued ability of the Canadian Armed Forces to protect our country.”

NORAD Upgrades

NORAD upgrades will not only include improvements to infrastructure and support capabilities, according to a DND press release, other areas of the modernization plan include:

• • Surveillance systems to detect threats earlier and more precisely,
  • Modern and secure technology that supports timely decision-making,
  • Air weapons systems to detect and defeat aerospace threats, and Creating a science and technology defence program to develop the capabilities of the future.

Canada’s Minister of National Defence and the United States Secretary of Defense announced the NORAD modernization plan earlier this summer. The funding of $38.6 billion is the most significant upgrade to Canadian NORAD capabilities in four decades.

The NORAD modernization will also help to create jobs, especially across Canada’s North.

5 Wing Goose Bay

In 1941, 5 Wing Goose Bay was chosen as a Canadian airfield by Canada and the U.S. for its accessibility to the sea and its overall strategic location. Its primary mission is to support NORAD operations for the projection of air power on the north and northeast coasts of Canada. The wing also provides effective training facilities, adaptable infrastructures, and a unique location for challenging exercises.