Canada’s Defence Minister officially opened 22 Wing CFB North Bay’s new health sciences centre on Friday.
Bill Blair also took the opportunity to get his seasonal flu shot during a tour of the new $22 million facility.
“The base we maintain here in North Bay is critically important to the security and safety of Canada and to North America. We’re going to continue to invest in this base and the men and women that serve here,” he says. “There’s absolutely no consideration of lessening our place here in North Bay. We’re looking to build upon it.”
The new 2,100 square metre facility consolidates medical, dental and mental health services into one central location on the base.
It replaces the previous health centre that was built in the 1960s.
“The new Health Services Centre at CFB North Bay is an important step forward for Canadian Armed Forces members in our community,” says MP Anthony Rota.
It was his first public event since resigning as Speaker of the House of Commons.
“I’ve known Anthony Rota for many years,” says Blair. “He’s a dear friend. I also look upon him as a mentor and an incredible example of public service and commitment to community. In all the years I’ve known Anthony he’s been an extraordinary advocate and representative of this community and continues to be.”
Blair was also asked about Canadian resources dealing with the Israel-Hamas war.
He says repatriation flights will continue as long as needed for Canadians fleeing Israel.
“We’re also very concerned about the safety of Canadians, it’s our first responsibility in the region. Not just in Israel, but in the region,” Blair says. “The Canadian Armed Forces, out of an abundance of prudence and caution, are deploying additional resources into the region to make sure that Canadians, wherever they may be, if they need our help, we’ll be there for them.”
In Lebanon, Blair says they’re encouraging Canadians who want to leave, to take commercial flights.
But he says if those flights become unavailable, the military is getting ready to assist.
