VICTORIA – Canada’s navy will not shift control of its ships on the West Coast from CFB Esquimalt to Halifax if the Conservatives are re-elected, Prime Minister Stephen Harper Thursday.
"If re-elected, our government will not be taking this action. I will not allow this move," Harper said in a statement. "The command and control of the Pacific fleet will stay in the Pacific, at Esquimalt."
He was responding to navy discussions about moving the command and control of the Pacific fleet from Esquimalt to Halifax in effort to find efficiencies and save money. Under the proposal, some top command and operational jobs at CFB Esquimalt would go to Halifax.
Premier Christy Clark spoke against the plan on Wednesday.
The premier said she immediately called Ottawa when she learned about the proposal. "I was delighted when I communicated my concerns to the Prime Minister’s Office and immediately heard back that they agree that the Pacific command will remain in Esquimalt," Clark said.
Clark said she’s confident Esquimalt will not lose command of the Pacific fleet. "The prime minister has said it’s not going to happen and I believe him when he says it," she said.
Canada’s navy on the West Coast is responsible for covering 1.7 million square kilometres of the northeast Pacific Ocean, operating frigates, a destroyer and other coastal defence vessels.
Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca Liberal candidate Lillian Szpak said the navy’s proposal has led to uncertainty for military families and the floating of it creates suspicion.
"The message came out of government, somehow, somewhere, to make efficiencies on the back of the military," Szpak said Thursday. "So it gets really negative press and the prime minister says it’s not true.
"(They’re) playing with people’s lives," she said. "It’s about people, they are your resource. It shows a blatant disrespect for our serving community."
Navy officials said Tuesday a number of proposals are being considered. "We are investigating the reorganization of the navy and how we do business but we’re still in the developmental stage," said navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Brian Owens.
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