Canada’s top soldier says N.L. has vital role in defence

Canada’s top military commander says given its geographical location, Newfoundland and Labrador has a vital role to play in the defence of the country.

Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office for a second time, there have been mounting concerns over Canada’s security during increased geopolitical instability and Trump’s jabs about Canada’s sovereignty.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced increased funding for Canada’s defence. Last summer, Carney joined NATO leaders in a promise to increase defence spending to five per cent of the GDP over the next decade.

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan said this province has a key role in the country’s security.

“Geopolitically, Labrador and Newfoundland are located in a very strategic position and offers incredible opportunities, both in terms of the basing but also in terms of training and positioning of various sensors,” Carignan told CBC News.

When asked about Trump repeatedly stating the U.S. should control Greenland — paired with N.L.’s geographical location and whether N.L. could play a stronger role in defence and NATO — Carignan replied Canada works closely with NATO allies as well as North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations, with N.L. contributing through bases, training and the positioning of sensors for defensive purposes.

“So many aspects where Newfoundland and Labrador contribute to the overall defence of Canada,” Carignan said, who was in St. John’s to attend the closing ceremony of the National Leader Enhanced Training Session for the Junior Canadian Rangers. said N.L. has a part to play in the country’s defensive strategy.

Rising recruitment

In April, Ottawa announced the Canadian Armed Forces had reached its highest recruitment in 30 years, enrolling 7,310 new members in the most recent fiscal year — surpassing its target of 6,957.

“We see Canadians from across the country and there is a lot of interest in the Canadian Armed Forces,” said Carignan.

There are big opportunities to serve in the mission to defend Canada, she added.

“With the additional investments right now, we can develop new capabilities and modernize our equipment,” Carignan said, alluding to recent federal announcements of billions of dollars committed to spending on Canada’s defence. “This is very exciting for Canadian Armed Forces members.”

In March, Ottawa announced a $35-billion plan to boost defence infrastructure in the Far North to defend the Arctic and protect Canada’s sovereignty.

Soon after the announcement, St. John’s East MP Joanne Thompson said up to $8 billion of that money would go to Labrador’s 5 Wing Goose Bay for improving airfield operational facilities and other infrastructure — with specifics to be released at an unspecified date.

Carignan did not share more details about what that would go toward, saying it would be used to “strengthen Goose Bay’s positioning and contribution to the overall defence mission.”

She added they need to finalize the analysis of those details to ensure the right work is prioritized.

“Although we have new funding coming in, we won’t be able to do everything all at once. So it will be about prioritizing and sequencing that work,” said Carignan.

She said that work will still entail airfield operations and infrastructure improvements, including electrical systems underground.

During his recent stop in St. John’s, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also said N.L. could potentially get more work related to increased defence spending, such as the construction of new Continental Defence Corvettes — the name placed on a proposed new fleet to replace the country’s existing coastal defence ships.

Poilievre also said there might be opportunities in additional supply ships for the Royal Canadian Navy.

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