Base closure threat a smoke screen (Updated)

Suggestions to close CFB North Bay could just be a “big smoke screen” for the military to squeeze more funding out of the federal government, Mayor Vic Fedeli says.

But, at the same time the city, armed with a 20-year agreement with the military to keep the base open, will prepare to fight any proposed closure through a two-pronged approach.

An article in today’s National Post stated the Canadian air force, navy and army expect to be $500 million short of the money needed to fulfill their commitments.

On everybody's list
The information is based on internal documents the government seems reluctant to release, the National Post article states.

But military sources told the Post the air force—short $150 million in its budget—has suggested CFB North Bay be closed as a cost-cutting measure as well as bases at Goose Bay, Nfld., Bagotville, Que., and Winnipeg.

“This is nothing new for North Bay because we seem to be on everybody’s list,” Fedeli said, “and we’re obviously going to be well prepared for this particular fight.”

Early in the process
Navy Lft. Diane Grover, a DND spokesperson, said the military is now into its annual budget cycle.

"The heads of all the departments including the army, navy and air force are putting together their business plans and impact statements and submitting them to the chief of the defence staff and the deputy minister," Grover said.

"Those submissions will be reviewed taking into acount things like budget affordability and balancing defence priorities."

Grover said it's still "early in the process" and no decisions have been made.

"So we're really not in a position to give any specific comments about these impact statements," Grover said.

At the same time she admitted not knowing the 20-year agreement had been signed.

Break the agreement
Fedeli and city staff will be taking “a very close look” at the agreement today “to see what it means,” Fedeli said.

“We want to see whether this is some bureaucrat who doesn’t know what he’s talking about or doesn’t know about this long-term agreement, or whether the defence department would just be prepared break the agreement.”

Nipissing MP Bob Wood has an appointment today with Defence Minister David Pratt, Fedeli said.

“Obviously we’ll communicate with our MP’s office to find out what his understanding is about the situation,” Fedeli said.

“Is this simply the military posturing for more money way to make sure they have the $500 million to buy new helicopters due this spring way, or a way to rattle communities to see who offers up their base? Who knows?”

Seeking maximum compensation
On the other hand, Fedeli said, if the defence department is, “God forbid,” even “marginally serious” about pursuing its course of action the city should consider implementing the second prong: seeking maximum compensation from the feds for the closure.

“We should start looking at a number,” Fedeli said, “and $20 million seems to be what east coast communities received when their bases were closed.”

At the same time the city will have to closely examine the deal it made with the defence department to keep the base open, Fedeli said.

“I only started this week to look at current agreement to find out what the concessions North Bay made mean in terms of dollars and cents, and there may be a few surprises that we find.”

Fedeli said the first priority, though, would be to try to save the base.

It's a smokescreen
Closing it would also involve closure of the underground facility, Fedeli said.

“They’re already well underway with construction of a new $20-million above-ground facility, so how can you talk about building it one day and closing it down the next,” Fedeli said.

“You can’t have that facility without the rest of the base to support it.”

At the heart of it Fedeli believes the closure scenario is more political than reality-based.

“I think it’s a big smoke screen by members of the military to get more money since it is budget time for them now,” Fedeli said.

“But we’re going to get ready to fight if it’s not a smoke screen.”

Fedeli knows the defence department well, having negotiated the purchase of the air side assets of CFB North Bay while chairman of Air Base Property Corporation.

For federal reaction to this story click here.