Honorary Colonel and Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli, Associate Minister of National Defence Julian Fantino, and Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Jay Aspin join members of the Canadian Armed Forces for a photo op.
Canada's Associate Minister of National Defence, Julian Fantino, was at the Fort Chippewa Barricks on Chippewa Street Monday to announce that $9.2 million dollars is slated for North Bay’s 22 Wing and the M.L.Troy Armoury.
The local allotments are part of the $452-million dollar fund announced last November to upgrade infrastructure on Canadian Armed Forces facilities. The government estimates 10-thousand jobs to be created across Canada with the upgrades to be finished by the end of next year.
Associate Minister Fantino praised the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces for their dedication to duty while being employed in harm’s way. Fantino also lauded the “venerated Alqonquin Regiment” which began in 1929.
Fantino says investments must be made to keep Canada’s military infrastructure strong. He called North Bay a very strategic place and important to the security of North America.
Associate Minister of National Defence Julian Fantino announces $9.2 million dollars for military renovations in North Bay.
Fantino said the Underground Complex has great value to North American security with NORAD. “We are making sure we maintain the asset as best we can.”
$2.9 million dollars will be used to renovate 22 Wing. There will be repairs on the fire-detection system in the Underground Complex. A former fire-suppression system will be removed, and a roof will be repaired as well as the emergency-lighting system. A heating boiler will also be replaced.
Fantino is set to tour the Underground Complex on Tuesday.
MP Jay Aspin says he will not be accompanying Associate Minister of Defence Julian Fantino as he has been on the tour many times. “I’m glad the minister is taking the time to do it. He’ll get a firm appreciation of the underground (complex). I’m hopeful that we can turn that into a viable asset that generates more employment and more opportunities. Its military use is limited but it is kept as a strategic asset.”
The more than $6.3 million dollars of the announcement will be spent on renovations on the M.L. Troy Amoury, inside and out. The roof will be repaired, the washroom facilities improved and repairs will be made to the emergency-lighting systems.
In his speech, Fantino called for Canadian municipalities to take the lead of North Bay, and celebrate Canadian Armed Forces Day, both on and off base.
