Military vehicles on flatbeds leave the area on Oct. 19. Future use of CFB Suffield is still being determined as the British Army examines it training programs after a major review last year and the current conflict in Ukraine.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The future of CFB Suffield is “assured,” the Canadian Forces base commander told Medicine Hat’s political and business leaders this week, but future use of the sprawling range is still being determined.
That comes as both Canada and the United Kingdom – joint operators of the facility – are deploying units to Europe and the UK upgrades its tanks and reviews training programs.
“CFB Suffield will remain an enduring presence in the community, but what we do there will evolve, but the core elements of what we do will remain the same,” Lt.-Col. Stephen Burke told the annual “Leadership Breakfast” hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.
“I really think it has a lot to offer the Canadian Armed forces,” he said, adding that non-British activity at the base has increased, and the relatively remote, very large base could host drone and other unmanned vehicle research and training.
The statement comes after several years of pause in major British Army training exercises and as both countries arrange support for NATO amid the war between Russia and Ukraine
As well, the British Ministry of Defence launched a major long-term overhaul of its operational and training capabilities in late 2021.
Member of Parliament Glen Motz said this week that following that review he engaged Defence Minister Anita Anand on the potential impact on CFB Suffield.
He supports offering to open the base to other allied nations’ live-fire or drone training, but says the focus right now is squarely on responding to the situation in Europe.
“There is no desire to shut it down,” Motz told the News. “It is a great space to do other things as technology changes and our risk factors change.
“I’m encouraged that there is optimism (from the base commander). It will continue to operate, but it may look different for a little while.”
The British Army will maintain a heavy armour fleet of upgraded Challenger II tanks, but at a reduced number and with no announced plan of location for training.
Past deployments brought 5,000 or more troops to southeast Alberta each summer, but training was cancelled in 2020 when troops aided the UK’s domestic response to the COVID pandemic.
Training in 2021 was moved to Germany over travel uncertainty, at which time vehicles and the training tank fleet at BATUS was shipped back to the U.K. for decommissioning or upgrades. Units are now deployed in Eastern Europe.
“The international situation, honestly, is not improving,” said Burke. “Canada’s support for NATO and Ukraine will be enduring for the next few years and that applies to the United Kingdom as well.
“Simply put, rather than (British Army) doing their training in Canada, they’re very busy conducting deterrence exercises along NATO’s flank facing Russia and Belarus.”
Burke says operations at the Defence Research station have increased, and other than the range, more Canadian Forces training has taken place, and range users such as oil and gas exploration, cattle grazing and other research, are being given increased access.
He said a tight labour market has made staffing civilian positions difficult, but is being managed as a large wave of retirements is expected.
Procurement is hampered by supply chain and labour shortages.
“We’re now in feast mode, but a limiting factor is our ability to actually reach the capacity of contracting, and the limitation of the industry,” he said.
“It may take a few more years to settle.”
Burke also stressed that morale is high and attrition at CFB Suffield is lower than at other bases in Canada, partly due to location, cost of living and amenities of the region.
