Ottawa announces $12 M for new ramps at 5 Wing Goose Bay in Labrador

GOOSE BAY, N.L. – Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has announced $12 million in funding to improve the airfield at a military base in Labrador.

Sajjan says in a statement that the funding for 5 Wing Goose Bay will be used to replace ramps that have reached their life expectancy.

He says a site survey will be carried out this year and the work will be completed in 2018.

Ottawa says the ramps are essential for NORAD flying operations.

Sajjan’s stop in Labrador follows a visit to New Brunswick on Monday where he announced more than $38 million in funding for Canadian Forces Base Gagetown.

The funding for Gagetown will pay for new buildings to house the main training centre for the detection and neutralization of improvised explosive devices and other explosive ordinance.

About 100 of the Canadian deaths during the war in Afghanistan were the result of attacks that used IEDs.

Another $2.3 million will be used for other infrastructure upgrades, including asphalt, lighting and the storm water collection system at the airfield on the base.