Bagotville – Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced the beginning of construction on a new Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) facility at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Bagotville. This facility will enable Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members to posture and deploy Canada’s incoming fleet of CF-35A fighter jets in a flight-ready state …
New military accommodations announced at CFB Esquimalt
Esquimalt – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced that a new, 480-room accommodations facility for Canadian Armed Forces members will be built at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt – and that a contract has been awarded to begin design work. The new 31,700 m2 facility for Junior Non-Commission Members will provide incoming Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) personnel with modern and functional infrastructure …
Bill Blair welcomes Australia’s Deputy PM in Vancouver
Ottawa – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence welcomed Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Defence, to Vancouver, British Columbia for a bilateral visit. The Ministers discussed Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free – and current and future efforts to strengthen the Canada-Australia defence relationship. Minister Blair and Deputy Prime …
P-8A Poseidon aircraft procurement bringing investment, economic growth to BC
Richmond – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, welcomed Boeing’s $61 million investment in the British Columbian aerospace sector. This investment is part of the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITBs) included in Canada’s decision to procure up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft from the United States Government and Boeing through the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) project. Canada’s investment to procure …
Minister Blair announces $35.8m to equip Canadian troops in Latvia
Ottawa – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced that Canada is investing $35.8 million (including taxes) to deliver 90 Light Tactical Vehicles (LTVs) to Canadian Army personnel deployed in Latvia under Operation REASSURANCE – Canada’s mission in support of NATO’s assurance and deterrence measures. This announcement comes as Canada’s military footprint in Europe, including Latvia, is growing. As the Framework Nation for NATO’s Multinational Battle Group Latvia, soon …
Groundbreaking for new Military Family Resource Centre at Base Petawawa
Petawawa – On behalf of Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, Parliamentary Secretary Marie-France Lalonde led a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Military Family Resource Centre at 4th Canadian Division Support Base (CDSB) Petawawa. The $42 million facility will consolidate the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services Personnel Support Programs and Military Family Resource Centre from seven separate locations into a single facility for family …
Minister Blair concludes productive visit to DC for Nato Summit
Washington – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence concluded a productive visit to Washington, DC, where he and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, and Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre attended the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Leaders’ Summit – including meetings of the North Atlantic Council and NATO-Ukraine Council. At the Summit, Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Blair announced that Canada …
Canada to acquire up to 12 conventionally-powered submarines
Washington – Canada is the country with the largest coastline in the world – an underwater surveillance capability is crucial to our security and sovereignty. As outlined in our defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, released in April 2024, our Arctic is now warming at four times the global average, making a vast and sensitive region more accessible …
Bill Blair says Canada’s boosting its military presence in Latvia
Ottawa – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, said to keep Nato’s eastern flank safe and secure, Canada is boosting its military presence in Latvia. At Adazi Military Base in Latvia, Canadian Forces and Allied personnel gathered to mark the standup of Nato Multinational Brigade Latvia, led by Canada.
Canada launches 1st strategy to support Veteran employment
Service after Service: The National Veterans Employment Strategy aims to improve employment opportunities for Veterans Ottawa – Veterans have served our country with pride and dedication. In the course of their service, they acquired skills and knowledge that make them valuable assets to any team. To facilitate a successful transition for members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Government of …