Esquimalt, British Columbia – Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, marked the opening of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt’s new B Jetty, on behalf of the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and Quebec Lieutenant.
The $1.1 billion A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project includes the demolition of the existing A and B jetties and replacing them with larger, more modern and robust structures. This will allow CFB Esquimalt to accommodate the new ships the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) will receive through Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, including the Joint Support Ships and the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships.
The construction of the new B Jetty created close to 1,300 jobs throughout its four-year duration. These jobs will be sustained with the construction of A Jetty, as the replacement of B and A jetties is being carried out successively to maintain the RCN’s ample berthing space during construction.
The A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project is expected to be completed in 2031. The new infrastructure uses durable, sustainable materials and was built using modern technologies and construction practices. The structure was designed to be responsive to the accelerating pace of climate change and to withstand the effects of an earthquake or rising waters from a tsunami.
“This milestone will ensure the Royal Canadian Navy has the critical infrastructure it needs at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt to accommodate the next generation of Canadian naval vessels. This is an important milestone in the A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project, and I am proud of the progress being made in continuing to grow our military capabilities.” – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
“CFB Esquimalt is the second largest military base in Canada and the Defence Team members stationed there require the appropriate infrastructure to support their vital work in defending our country. The investment in the Royal Canadian Navy by our government, the largest since the Second World War, includes modern infrastructure that can support our newly acquired fleets.” – Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada