Canadian military to build multi-million dollar facility in Northern city
Canada’s Department of National Defence [DND] is planning on spending over $50 million to build a 7,600 square metre facility in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, though the location has not yet been selected.
Construction on the new facility is expected to begin in 2020, with the building fully operational by 2024.
The project is expected to cost between $50 million and $99 million. DND spokesperson Ashley Lemire said the department will begin looking for contractors to build the facility next year.
The new multi-purpose building in Yellowknife will include office space, an assembly hall, warehouse and garage. It is being designed to hold 110 employees.
Lemire said the building is being designed to bring together DND employees who are currently scattered across the city.
Area Support Unit (North) Joint Task Force North and 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group will be moving into the new building.
There are 365 DND staff stationed in Yellowknife, including 52 rangers and 314 military members from Joint Task Force North [JTFN]. The entire contingent of rangers is expected to move into the new building, leaving space for 58 JTFN members.
New building part of massive Canadian investment
The new facility in Yellowknife is part of a 20 year investment from the federal government into national defence projects. A total of $283 billion is expected to be invested in national defence spending by 2035-2036.
Infrastructure upgrades like Yellowknife’s planned multi-purpose building constitute $108 billion of the planned investment.
According to the government’s plan, the investment will increase the size of the Canadian Armed Forces, continue to build with Canadian partners and provide better equipment and facilities for the military.
With files from Richard Gleeson
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada’s defence minister says military upgrades part of plan to strengthen Arctic sovereignty, CBC News
Finland: Finland to host major war games in 2021, Yle News
Norway: Will NATO save important air base in Norwegian Arctic?, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russian navy boosting armament on northwestern bases, satellite images show, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Swedish military wants to double in size, Radio Sweden
United States: New symposium brings U.S. military’s attention to the Arctic, Alaska Public Media
