In a recent letter to the provincial government, National Defence Minister Peter Mckay confirmed that the federal government will not be making any investments into their rapid response battalion or additional troop deployment at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Goose Bay, says Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones.

The June 3rd letter is written to Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dave Denine and states, “Goose Bay was never considered as an option for the territorial battalion group” and “…the army currently has no planned investment in Goose Bay”. This is in direct contrast with the 2006 election commitment of Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he stated that a new rapid reaction army battalion of approximately 650 personnel would be established at CFB Goose Bay and that these plans would result in a significant increase in employment in the Goose Bay area.

“I am extremely disappointed that the federal government has broken another promise to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Ms. Jones. “The people of Happy Valley-Goose Bay have been waiting for this rapid response battalion to be established at CFB Goose Bay for over four years and it is very disappointing that it now appears that this will not happen. The associated employment and activity created by this investment would provide new opportunities and strengthen the services currently offered at the base. This is bad news and it is unfortunate that the federal government remains unwilling to live up to its commitments.”

Jones is also questioning why the provincial government has not been more vocal on this issue and raise concern publicly. “Our provincial government certainly isn’t shy about announcing their dislike of Stephen Harper and his government and I cannot understand why they have been so silent on this issue. A clear promise was made to the people of Goose Bay and that promise has been broken. The people of the province deserve to know about these decisions when they are made. Government received this letter almost a month ago and has said nothing publicly and I question why they are restraining their outrage on this issue.