Mayor lobbies Ottawa to spend new defence money in Winnipeg

Mayor Scott Gillingham is lobbying the federal government to dole out more defence dollars to Winnipeg as it ramps up Canada’s military spending.

“It’s a call for the federal government to look at Winnipeg and invest significantly in our city… We have 17 Wing Winnipeg (a support base of the Royal Canadian Air Force). It’s celebrating 100 years this year in Winnipeg. So, we have been… supporting the defence sector for a century. We believe that we are well-positioned to continue to support Canadian defence for years to come,” said Gillingham.

In June, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada, along with its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies, will dramatically increase defence spending to reach five per cent of annual gross domestic product by 2035.

That pledge includes 3.5 per cent of GDP for core military capabilities and 1.5 per cent of GDP for “critical defence and security-related expenditure,” a federal press release notes.

At the time, Carney told media that meeting the goal would cost $150 billion per year.

With 17 Wing Winnipeg, two Royal Canadian Air Force headquarters and Canada’s third-largest aerospace sector, Winnipeg should be recognized as a “cornerstone” for defence expansion, said Gillingham.

“Among other things, there are opportunities to expand what’s happening at 17 Wing. There are some new… airplanes and new aspects of defence and air defence the military is looking at,” he said.

The mayor said federal funding partnerships on key Winnipeg infrastructure projects would further enhance military and aerospace operations, noting the Route 90 expansion, Chief Peguis Trail extension and North End sewage treatment plant upgrade as examples.

“Route 90 and the future Chief Peguis (Trail) extension are two key infrastructure routes that really do feed into the airport area and 17 Wing is located at the airport. So, it’s not a stretch to say that the movement of military goods in and out and through Winnipeg would need to travel along those corridors… (And) the future of Winnipeg depends upon the north end sewage treatment plant being built. Housing, commercial development, industrial development, all of it require pipes and a wastewater treatment system that is upgraded,” said Gillingham.

Recent reports suggest extending Chief Peguis would cost $755 million, while revamping Kenaston Boulevard/Route 90 would cost $586 million. The sewage plant upgrade is expected to cost more than $3 billion.

The mayor said he discussed the topic with federal Defence Minister David McGuinty last month. He said his push for defence dollars is backed by several Manitoba business and industry associations.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga