Shared with the usual disclaimer.....
Airborne may drop in Trenton
Luke Hendry, Belleville Intelligencer, 17 Jan 08
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The plan to establish an airborne infantry unit in Trenton has taken a major step forward due to the purchase of a key piece of land north of CFB Trenton, officials announced Wednesday.
"We closed the sale on the purchase of the third property (Tuesday)," said Meeta Bhimani, communications director for Public Works and Government Services Canada.
The ministry is handling land purchases on behalf of the Department of National Defence (DND).
"It's about 305 acres," she said of the new land. "We're continuing negotiations with the other properties."
To date, the government has bought a total of about 130 hectares (320 acres).
Officials have told The Intelligencer the DND wants about 401 hectares as part of a plan to expand the base, though it will settle for about 220 hectares.
Northumberland-Quinte West MP Rick Norlock was quick to trumpet the sale as "the major purchase" in the federal quest for land.
"The major piece of property, sort of the linchpin of the purchases, was finalized at the beginning of this week," said Norlock. "That sort of paves the way for more concrete planning on the part of the (defence) department."
Norlock also confirmed the government's intent for the land.
"I have said from Day 1 that we intend to deliver an additional 650 people, an airborne unit, to CFB Trenton, and this is one of the big steps along the way to making that happen," Norlock said. "We'll have to wait and see about the timelines."
It has long been a promise of the Conservative government to establish an airborne infantry unit in Trenton. And while the Tories have followed through with other promises affecting the base - two new air transport fleets, $400 million in infrastructure development and funding for the neighbouring National Air Force Museum of Canada - the airborne issue has appeared to be in limbo.
Defence staff have refused to comment on why the department needs the land, saying only that it is for "expansion of CFB Trenton."
It has been reported that instead of creating a new airborne unit the Tories would instead move Canada's Joint Task Force 2 special forces unit to Trenton. Norlock, though, said he was not allowed to comment on details of the coming unit.
"I can't confirm that," he said.
In the meantime, the latest land purchase means that after months without acquiring much land, the government is now far closer to its minimum requirement of 220 hectares.
"That's great news as far as I'm concerned - great news for the city and great news for the whole area," said Quinte West Mayor John Williams.
He said city staff have fielded recent DND inquiries about municipal services such as sewer and water in the area.
"It tells me they're starting to crank it up," he said of the proposed expansion.
"Indications are it's going to be quite an expansion - probably more people and more construction," said Williams, adding it's particularly good for an area suffering economic problems.
"It's nice to be in an area where you have this type of thing happening, and we're fortunate," he said. "That again is a huge indication how much investment the government is going to put into this base and this area.
"The area has always been extremely supportive of the base," he said. "Maybe that has something to do with it (the expansion). We've always had good relationships, which I think speaks well of the community. I think people realize how much that means; it makes sense to do this here."
Staff at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, meanwhile, said no interviews on the subject could be granted Wednesday.
