Over the past two days, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, has concluded visits to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) establishments in western Canada. On August 13, he visited with CAF leaders and members posted to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Edmonton, accompanied by the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Centre. On August 14, he visited CFB Cold Lake, home to the Royal Canadian Air Force's 4 Wing, located in Alberta.
These visits follow the Government of Canada's announcement to increase the pay and benefits for CAF members, which will directly benefit members of the Regular Force, the Primary Reserve, the Canadian Rangers, and the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service.
To ensure Canada maintains a highly trained and operationally ready military, the Canadian Armed Forces' enhanced compensation and benefits package is an investment in the well-being, resilience, and effectiveness of our members. It acknowledges the unique sacrifices they make - from frequent relocations and long separations from loved ones, to the demands of 24/7 readiness. It also reflects the realities of training and operations in challenging and often harsh environments.
As Minister McGuinty emphasized during discussions with military leaders and members in Edmonton and Cold Lake, this package includes a new allowance for Domestic and Arctic Operations, recognizing the vital role our members play in protecting Canada's sovereignty in the North and in providing life-saving disaster relief to communities across the country.
