Newfoundland & Labrador's provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday, July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

By The Canadian Press

Ottawa commits to spending up to $8 billion on air force base in central Labrador

Apr 1, 2026 | 12:54 PM

HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY — The federal government says it will spend a record-setting $8 billion on defence-related projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, though planning remains in the early stages.

The Defence Department says the long-term investment would be the largest of its kind in the history of the province.

The money is earmarked for upgrades to 5 Wing Goose Bay, the Royal Canadian Air Force base in central Labrador.

The commitment is part of a larger, $32-billion plan to improve airfields, buildings and other infrastructure at four key northern sites used by the Norad military alliance that includes Canada and the United States.

The other sites include Inuvik and Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories and Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut.

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The government says improvements to these sites will support Norad missions and allow for rapid mobilization of military resources in the Far North.

The announcement was made by federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, who is a Newfoundland MP.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2026.

The Canadian Press