Ottawa announces 10 new contracts for Goose Bay cleanup
Mackay highlights work for provincial employers, job creation
Sand lines the streets of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and is also beneath the adjacent Canadian Forces Base — 5 Wing Goose Bay.
There, the sand is contaminated with fuels, PCBs and other chemicals soaked up during the early decades of the base’s operation.
The contamination is from old leaky pipes and the outdated way disposal of sensitive materials was done in a time before modern environmental regulations.
It is why, Monday morning, while Defence Minister Peter MacKay was at the base in Happy Valley-Goose Bay announcing funding for improvements to infrastructure at the airbase.
He also announced a new round of contracts for environmental cleanup work throughout the military site.
A little more than a million dollars is being provided for improvements to the airfield itself, with work on the ramp in particular, MacKay said.
There will also be more than a million dollars spent on re-roofing work on the joint training centre at the base.
“Local contracts, local workers and businesses will benefit from these contracts being awarded today,” he said.
The minister went on to list some provincially-based companies awarded the 10 environmental remediation contracts, totalling about $4 million.
The cleanup at 5 Wing Goose Bay got moving in 2009, with a commitment of $300 million in federal funding for work including fence installation, soil removal, risk assessments and screening.
Contracts under the remediation plan continue to be rolled out, with the work — and announcements — expected to continue through 2020.
MacKay spoke about the overall cleanup as an investment in the environment, but also in the future of the Canadian Forces Base.
“I must say there’s rarely a day (that) goes by that Peter Penashue and I are in Ottawa together that he doesn’t mention 5 Wing in one form or another,” the minister said, turning to look at Penashue, who was seated beside him.
“We often speak about the importance of this facility, the strategic location, the utility to the Canadian Forces that Goose Bay provides.”
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