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Most of the federal money coming to Base Gagetown will be used to upgrade the range and training area at the base and to build ground-based infrastructure for an air defence system.
Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced more than $1 billion would be spent on 5th Canadian Support Base Gagetown as part of the government’s plan to rebuild and the military.
On Wednesday, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc broke down how some of that money will be spent.
About $172 million is for building infrastructure to house equipment coming for the new air defence system, something LeBlanc said is vital to the realities of modern combat.
WATCH | More details on the $1 billion for Base Gagetown:
Base Gagetown upgrades to begin this construction season
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc visited 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown to explain how the federal government plans to spend more than $1 billion on the base over the next decade.
“The system will allow the Canadian Armed Forces, all of you, to defeat threats posed by rockets, artillery, and mortar munitions, air to surface missals and bombs,” he said.
But the bulk of the money will go to reconfiguring Gagetown’s training area and range, he said. According to a news release from National Defence, this would cost about $871 million.
LeBlanc told reporters that the work will include repairing roads on the base, modernizing training grounds and building a new medical centre.
“We understand the urgency of upgrading this infrastructure,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced over $1 billion for Base Gagetown in Halifax on March 26. (Brian MacKay/CBC)
The federal government is also promising $20.2 million to upgrade a large building for transitional services, helping members who are leaving military service and helping their families make the transition as well.
Construction of that centre has been underway since 2024. The news release said the completion of it was expected last month.
“It will strengthen access to career, health and administrative services,” LeBlanc said. “Every …member deserves high quality support as they transition into their next phase of life.”
Carney previously announced some of the money would go toward new housing on the base.
David Myles, the MP for Fredericton-Oromocto, said 650 units will be built, and the provincial government will likely engage local modular-home builders to get the work done.
He said work on housing will be among the first projects taackled, and the goal is to begin this construction season.