Smoke and dirt kick up as tanks fire of rounds during a live fire exercise that ran Wednesday by the British Army Training Unit Suffield.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
More than 100 positions at CFB Suffield are in jeopardy as the British Army continues to reduce its presence at the Canadian military base northwest of Medicine Hat, the News has learned.
At an all-staff meeting at the facility Wednesday, base commander Lt.-Col. Joe Andrechek laid out the coming “workforce” adjustments this winter to Canadian support and administrative staff.
Member of Parliament Glen Motz said the changes are “painful” in the short-term, but the Canadian ministry could work to improve the long-term outlook for the huge training facility.
“The (Canadian) military cannot forget about this base,” he told the News.
That a sentiment was echoed by Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright, recently named the provincial cabinet’s liaison with the military, who said the improving provincial economy could absorb job losses.
As many as 300 Hatters are employed at CFB Suffield, including general support, the civilian public service, the defence research station and at British Army Training Unit Suffield.
This week’s report comes after several years of uncertainty about the British presence at the base which has existed since the early 1970s but has been in question since large-scale training stopped in 2020.
Danielle Poissant is the vice-president of the Union of National Defence Employees, which represents employees in several departments at the base. She said the union is still evaluating the announcement and is awaiting formal notice of the move and timelines.
“There’s certainly a lot of instability for our members and it’s a significant number of members – these are people with families who live and shop in our community,” said Poissant. “It’s put everyone up in the air.”
Typically, workers would be offered similar or comparable positions elsewhere on the base, but since the British operations made up such a large portion of local activity, there is little chance many local workers will remain on site, according to sources.
They say as many as 130 positions could be put at risk in the reduction in British Army unit, with few options to to remain in the region, according to one worker facing layoff.
“They’ve basically said that there is nothing for you unless you’re willing to relocate to another base,” said the technician, who the News is not naming.
After two decades as a civilian public service after a military career, the man said he may have to move out of province to maintain his job and qualify for full pension in several years.
“It’s not right.”
British Army Training Unit Suffield contracts Canadian military and civilian public service employees to support and operate the large-scale training exercise site.
Armour training stopped during the COVID pandemic, and is now done in Germany and Eastern Europe, nearer to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as show of NATO strength.
This fall, Andrechek told a local audience that the base is a valuable piece of the military’s training picture, and he is attempting to boost use of the range by Canadian and allied forces.
But he also confirmed that all U.K. heavy equipment had been removed, and a decision on future use was likely delayed until after European tensions subside and a report by the U.K Ministry of Defence capabilities is complete.
Motz said he intends to raise the issues when he returns to Ottawa later this month with the Department of National Defence and Defence Minister Bill Blair.
“This will affect many people in the short term, and it’s something DND will have to deal with,” said Motz. “Long term, I think there’s enormous potential in the base, be it Canadian or allied training, war games, drones.
“There are significant opportunities that are being presented on the potential of the base could be used for.”
Wright told the News the province is working to bolster the high tech, aeronautic and defence sectors in the province.
“Any job losses are difficult for those affected and the community,” he said in a written statement. “I’ve spoken with the CFB Suffield Base Commander, and I am optimistic about the prospects and plans for the base and its impact on the community and skilled workers in the region.”
