Goose Bay: Promises & updates

[George Wallace]

As I understand it, one of the key issues with putting more capabilities into Goose Bay is that, because it's an isolated posting with a three-year tour length, if you greatly increase the number of people there then the career managers will end up spending all their money posting people in and out of Goose Bay. Money, as you pointed out, we don't have.

At the same time: more people means more jobs; more infrastructure in the town; more businesses in town; more travel into and out of Goose Bay; etc.

One of the major problems up there now it the fact that the CAF and NATO partners have all but pulled out, leaving Goose Bay more or less a 'ghost town'.

Would this not be an opportunity to make a Ranger Group HQ up North rather than in Southern Ontario?

 

[Ostrozac]

Would this not be an opportunity to make a Ranger Group HQ up North rather than in Southern Ontario?

Admitedly, Borden (3rd Ranger Patrol Group HQ) is a long way from Northern Ontario, but Labrador is even further. The HQ for 5th Ranger Patrol Group is in Gander. And since 5th Group has 12 patrols in Labrador and 20 in Newfoundland, then the island is probably the right place for the HQ.

 

[George Wallace]

Admitedly, Borden (3rd Ranger Patrol Group HQ) is a long way from Northern Ontario, but Labrador is even further. The HQ for 5th Ranger Patrol Group is in Gander. And since 5th Group has 12 patrols in Labrador and 20 in Newfoundland, then the island is probably the right place for the HQ.

That is a fact that I had no immediate info to consider.  Thank you for the clarification and correction to my spurious thought.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Latest from the House of Commons yesterday:

Ms. Yvonne Jones (Labrador, Lib.):  Mr. Speaker, in May 2013, the government signed an internal agreement to increase services and staff at CFB Goose Bay, yet it is cutting jobs, eroding services, and providing no explanation. The Conservatives' commitment was to increase support services for training for northern regions, yet nothing has been implemented.  I ask the minister to make good on his commitment to 5 Wing Goose Bay, stop misleading working people, stop misleading and playing political games, and stop cutting first-line military staff in the country.

Hon. Rob Nicholson (Minister of National Defence, CPC):  Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. After the decade of darkness that was implemented by the Liberal Party, we have made the support of our men and women in uniform and our armed forces a priority, and we will continue to do so.

 

[NorthernProtector]

Why not a winter warfare centre?

 

[Good2Golf]

Why not a winter warfare centre?

Wainright isn't 'wintery' enough?

 

[YZT580]

Are the people protesting the potential closure of Goose the same ones who argued so vehemently against the low level training?  Goose is a superb place to conduct advanced training.  With a little creative marketing and pricing incentives it could have become one of the premiere aeronautical training facilities  but when the local people didn't want any part of it, the customers went elsewhere.  Without the training, it is a white elephant and should be closed.  There are places that we have already shut down (Summerside comes to mind) that were far more strategically located and offered much greater opportunities for spousal satisfaction to waste a tear on the folks in Goose neighbourhood who fought so hard to ensure that the training went elsewhere.

 

[George Wallace]

Are the people protesting the potential closure of Goose the same ones who argued so vehemently against the low level training?  Goose is a superb place to conduct advanced training.  With a little creative marketing and pricing incentives it could have become one of the premiere aeronautical training facilities  but when the local people didn't want any part of it, the customers went elsewhere.  Without the training, it is a white elephant and should be closed.  There are places that we have already shut down (Summerside comes to mind) that were far more strategically located and offered much greater opportunities for spousal satisfaction to waste a tear on the folks in Goose neighbourhood who fought so hard to ensure that the training went elsewhere.

So true.

 

[dimsum]

Are the people protesting the potential closure of Goose the same ones who argued so vehemently against the low level training?  Goose is a superb place to conduct advanced training.  With a little creative marketing and pricing incentives it could have become one of the premiere aeronautical training facilities  but when the local people didn't want any part of it, the customers went elsewhere.  Without the training, it is a white elephant and should be closed.  There are places that we have already shut down (Summerside comes to mind) that were far more strategically located and offered much greater opportunities for spousal satisfaction to waste a tear on the folks in Goose neighbourhood who fought so hard to ensure that the training went elsewhere.

How dare you bring "common sense" and "evidence" to this?  >

 

[The Bread Guy]

Latest on the contractor layoffs, shared here in accordance with the Fair Dealing provisions (§29) of the Copyright Act ....

The general manager of the Goose Bay Airport says layoffs on the military base will not have an impact on air traffic to the region.

Serco announced in January that it was cutting 25 jobs at 5 Wing Goose Bay.

The company is responsible for a number of support services on the base, including firefighting, which is among the services being cut.

The availability of emergency services at an airport can change the category ranking of the site — changing the type of craft the air field can accommodate.

Goronwy Price, the airport's general manager, said these cuts will not affect the kinds of civilian aircraft that can land on the base, or the classification of the airport.

"The category seven is going to remain from a civilian context at YYR, which means that all the activities that took place prior to these adjustments will continue after the adjustments," he said.

Lt.-Col. Michael Ward, commander at 5 Wing, said the change in services available at the airport will also not impact military air traffic.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Updates from Canada's public tendering site (with a bit more detail in attached bid package)....

.... Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) anticipates soliciting Industry to deliver Site Support Services in support of the Department of National Defence (DND) activities at 5 Wing Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. This requirement is expected to encompass all site support services as mandated by the Royal Canadian Air Force.  Prior to commencing with the procurement process it is Canada's intent to request information from Industry.

Delivery Date: 09/05/2014

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement ....

.... and from NF media:

The head of the union at CFB Goose Bay is raising more questions about the future of the facility. Bernie Bolger says a request for interest was recently issued to extend the contract for providing services at the base by another two years, with a further two year option. Bolger says that doesn't seem to indicate that there is a long term plan for the base.  Bolger says the union needs the help of the provincial government to press Ottawa on the matter ....

 

[The Bread Guy]

INVITATION TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) TO OCCUPY SPACE IN HANGAR 7 AT 5 WING GOOSE BAY IN THE TOWN OF HAPPY VALLEY - GOOSE BAY, NL
FILE NUMBER R.071403.001

(....)

Hangar Description and Air Field Restrictions

7 Hangar is a large free standing hangar located on the aerodrome in the Airfield Operating Zone (AOZ).  It can only be accessed with specifically cleared vehicles through the aerodrome ramp access gates which require all vehicles to be driven and inspected by ramp qualified personnel.  Due to these factors, the hangar is not suitable for storage or as a warehouse operations building.  The use of 7 Hangar should be tailored to aerospace industry and flying operations.  The hangar is an open concept building with large aircraft bays, ample internal storage for AMSE and testing equipment, there are three internal towers with technical and office space.  The facility would ideally be used by an aerospace industry tenant, who occupies the entire facility for ease of access, work and building security ....

Floor plan attached, with a few more details here.

 

[The Bread Guy]

This from buyandsell.gc.ca (also attached if link doesn't work):

In accordance with the rules, regulations, statutes, guidelines and the professional associations of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Defence Construction Canada (DCC) is calling for Abbreviated Proposals from firms to provide services specific to this Department of National Defence (DND) project, which will be located in 5 Wing Goose Bay, NL.

The objective of this project is to develop a remedial strategy and detailed design for contaminated sites.  The work will include the development of a Closure/Remedial Plan, Design Packages and provide Tender Phase Services (TPS) and Construction Phase Services (CPS) for remediation of the Eastern Dumps and impacted sediment in the adjacent Stillwaters at the South Escarpment area of 5 Wing Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador ....

Date closing:  2015/01/08 14:00 Eastern Standard Time (EST)

 

[The Bread Guy]

Blowing the dust off of this thread with this head's up from the info-machine:

As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to ensure Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel have the support they need, including safe and modern facilities in which to work and train, media are invited to attend an announcement by Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan regarding  defence infrastructure investments for 5 Wing Goose Bay.

Minister Sajjan will hold a media availability following the announcement.

Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Time: 10:50 a.m. (Atlantic Daylight Time)* 

Location: Canuck Club, Building 310, Canuck Road, 5 Wing Goose Bay, N.L. ...

* - That's 0950 Eastern
op:

 

[The Bread Guy]

From the Info-machine (highlights mine):

As part of the Government’s commitment to ensure that Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel have the support they need, including safe and modern facilities in which to work and train, Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan today announced a $12 million investment for 5 Wing Goose Bay to improve critical infrastructure.

This investment in 5 Wing Goose Bay will permit the upgrade of the airfield through the replacement of ramps which have reached their life expectancy. These ramps are essential for NORAD flying operations. A site survey will be carried out this year and work will be completed in 2018.

Quotes

    “This announcement underscores the Government’s commitment to empower the Canadian Armed Forces with the resources they need to successfully carry out their missions — protecting Canadians’ interests, now and in the future. This investment will ensure our military has the right infrastructure to effectively defend Canada and North America. The local community will also benefit from the economic opportunities this project will provide.”

    Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister

Quick Facts

    As announced in Budget 2016, the Government of Canada will invest $200 million in infrastructure at CAF bases and other defence properties across Canada. The investments will allow the repair of airfields, hangars, live-fire ranges, jetties, armouries and military housing, as well as improvements to Northern infrastructure.
    Through this investment, 5 Wing Goose Bay will replace the ramps located east of Hangars 7 and 8.
    Sustained improvements to military infrastructure are necessary to provide the women and men of the CAF with the facilities they need to train and operate successfully, well into the future.
    These infrastructure projects provide economic opportunities for local communities, which help to create new jobs and opportunities for businesses across the country.

 

[The Bread Guy]

More complaints about the RFP to run the place ...

The Liberal member of Parliament for Labrador is calling on her own party to change the way requests for proposals are drawn up after a recently-announced contract at 5 Wing Goose Bay resulted in layoffs and pay cuts for dozens of employees.

Yvonne Jones said the two-year contract, awarded to Serco, the long-time provider of non-military services, doesn't allow enough wiggle room for expensive capital purchases.

"Two year contracts are not going to work for the base in Goose Bay," said Jones.

"We need to see longer-term contracts so that the service and the capital piece, in particular, can be written off over a longer period of time."

​Serco won the $115-million contract in September. Earlier this month, the Union of National Defense Employees told CBC 29 non-military workers were given layoff notices and another 18 are being demoted ...

 

[Kirkhill]

More complaints about the RFP to run the place ...

Presumably the Defence Review will determine if there is a long term need for Goose Bay......

:crickets: