Rescue missions will suffer due to cuts at Goose Bay: union

Weather station reducing hours it operates; four of six employees to be laid off

The weather station that provides the military with information at Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay is being scaled back, a move that will significantly limit search-and-rescue missions in the region, warn workers at the base.

Four of the six employees at the CFB Goose Bay/5 Wing weather station were told Tuesday they were being laid off. Operations at the Newfoundland and Labrador facility, which was providing weather information on a 24-hour basis, will be scaled back to Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., said Bernie Bolger, local president for the Union of National Defence Employees.

The lack of briefings to search-and-rescue aircrews after hours ‘will have an impact on everything and the aviation industry as a whole.’ BERNIE BOLGER local president for the Union of National defence Employees

Bolger said search-and-rescue aircrews require a briefing from the station regarding weather information before conducting missions. “That won’t be happening on the weekends or after 5:30 when the station closes,” he said.

“This will have an impact on everything and the aviation industry as a whole.”

He also noted that one of base’s main radars is also being shut down and employees laid off. Bolger did not have details on the numbers of workers in that case as they are not part of his union.

A Department of National Defence official said the department could not comment Tuesday but might be able to issue a response on Wednesday.

Bolger said the number of runway systems used to stop aircraft in an emergency has also been cut from four to two.

“I think this is all part of a plan to close the base after the next federal election,” he said.

Bolger says the government is not providing the union with much information about downsizing at the base.

A May 13 military directive obtained by the Citizen discussed Canadian Forces plans to increase the size of its reserve force in Goose Bay, try to improve its chances to attract foreign training, and hire a contractor to conduct maritime surveillance patrols.

Bolger said limiting the ability of the weather station and shutting down the radar will hinder efforts to attract foreign militaries to train at the base.

The announcement Tuesday also appears to run counter to the Conservative government’s desire to improve search and rescue capacity and find a greater role for CFB Goose Bay.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper wrote to then-Defence minister Peter MacKay on two occasions last year about the need to move ahead with finding a larger military role for 5 Wing/CFB Goose Bay, according to documents obtained by the Citizen.

Harper wanted the military to put emphasis on protecting Canadian sovereignty and he sees Goose Bay as potentially able to play a key part in that, MacKay was told.

In addition, Harper called for improvements in both search and rescue and the capability for the military to respond to domestic emergencies.

Also to be improved is the surveillance of Canadian territory, he added.

“As part of this process, you will need to include options and recommendations to establish a clear sovereignty protection mandate for 5 Wing Goose Bay,” Harper told MacKay.

During the 2005 federal election, the Conservatives pledged to create a rapid response military unit and a squadron of unmanned aerial vehicles, both of which would be located at the base.

Once in power in 2006 the Conservatives reiterated those promises but they have not followed through.