Category: Canada

For Immediate Release

Providing the Canadian Armed Forces With the Equipment They Need to Stay Safe and Do Their Job

November 13, 2014 – London, Ontario – Public Works and Government Services Canada

Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Regional Minister for Southwestern Ontario, and Susan Truppe, Member of Parliament for London North Centre and Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women, announced the awarding of a $287-million contract to General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada (GDLS-C) to equip 66 upgraded Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV) with a new reconnaissance and surveillance system.

These upgrades will improve the safety of our troops and their ability to detect and engage threats from much greater distances than ever before. Specifically, the new reconnaissance and surveillance system includes the integration of radar sensors in the LAVs, so that soldiers will no longer have to leave the safety of the vehicle in order to use the radar equipment. There will also be new infra-red equipment, which will significantly improve night-time and overall daytime vision of the perimeter surrounding the vehicle. Upgrades will also be made to the vehicle’s firepower and mobility.

This new contract will maintain 60 full-time positions at General Dynamics, mainly in the London facility, and generate or maintain a significant number of additional jobs among the company’s sub-contractors. In addition, through this contract, 100 per cent of the contract’s value will be re-invested in direct and indirect industrial regional benefits.

This contract is another example of the Government’s commitment to providing the right equipment to the Canadian Armed Forces, while supporting Canadian manufacturing, skills, innovation and jobs.

Quick Facts
Canada has over 650 firms engaged in providing defence goods and services, generating $9.4 billion in revenue, with an estimated $6-billion impact on the gross domestic product and employment for 64,000 full‑time employees.
Quotes

“The contributions of our military forces are always a source of pride for Canadians. It is fitting, I think, to know that the contract our Government is announcing today will result in enhancements that will help protect the brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces.”

The Honourable Diane Finley
Minister of Public Works and Government Services

“Our Government understands the importance of providing our men and women in uniform with the tools they need to excel at their jobs while on training, exercise, or operations. These upgraded armoured vehicles will  enable our Canadian Armed Forces to work seamlessly with other Canadian and Allied surveillance systems.”

The Honourable Rob Nicholson
Minister of Defence

“Through support of the Light Armoured Vehicle Reconnaissance and Surveillance project, our Government will continue to deliver the right equipment to the Canadian Armed Forces, while helping to create jobs and economic growth within Canada.”

The Honourable James Moore
Minister of Industry

“Our Government is focused on what matters to Canadians: jobs and economic growth. I welcome today’s announcement, which reaffirms our commitment to strengthening London’s economy and makes it clear that hard-working Londoners at GDLS-C can compete with the best in the world. This is great news for our community.”

Susan Truppe
Member of Parliament for London North Centre and Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women
Associated Links

Canada’s Defence Procurement Strategy

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Contacts

Marcel Poulin
Office of the Honourable Diane Finley
819-997-5421

Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315

PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site.

Follow us on Twitter.

Source:: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=903869

      

LONDON, Ontario, November 12, 2014 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, will make an important announcement supporting the Canadian Armed Forces and the local economy.

Date: November 13, 2014
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: General Dynamics Land Systems
(GDLS) Canada
1991 Oxford Street East – Bldg. 15
London, Ontario

INFORMATION:

Marcel Poulin
Office of the Honourable Diane Finley
819-997-5421

Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315

Follow us on Twitter

Source:: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=903629

      

LONDON, Ontario, November 12, 2014 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, will deliver a keynote address dealing with federal procurement at the 2014 Best Defence Conference.

Date: November 13, 2014
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: London Convention Centre
300 York Street
London, Ontario

Media are asked to register on site at the media table at 11:30 a.m.

INFORMATION:

Marcel Poulin
Office of the Honourable Diane Finley
819-997-5421

Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315

Follow us on Twitter

Source:: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=903489

      

The Government of Canada is strengthening public health measures at Canada’s borders to protect Canadians and prevent the spread of Ebola to Canada. These measures formally take effect on November 10, 2014.

All travellers coming into Canada with a travel history from the outbreak regions will need to be monitored for up to 21 days. Quarantine Officers will require these travellers to report to a local public health authority in Canada and will provide travellers with instructions on how to report and an information kit. The kit includes a thermometer to check their temperature daily for up to 21 days.

Travellers without Symptoms
Travellers from Ebola outbreak affected regions who are not presenting symptoms will be put into one of two categories, High Risk and Low Risk.

High Risk Travellers
Travellers with a history of travel to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone without symptoms but who have had direct contact with Ebola patients (e.g. funeral attendants, family contacts of infected individuals, etc.) will be ordered by a Quarantine Officer to immediately:

report to a local public health authority;
self-isolate at home or at a facility for 21 days (and are recommended to stay in proximity to a provincially designated treatment centre); and
be monitored daily for symptoms, including fever.

Low Risk Travellers
Travellers with a history of travel to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone without symptoms and with no known exposure to the virus will be:

ordered to report to a public health authority within 24 hours;
self-monitor daily for 21 days, including a temperature check twice daily;
required to immediately report any Ebola symptoms; and
required to report any planned travel.

 Low Risk travellers will not be ordered to self-isolate at home or at a facility.

Humanitarian Workers
Healthcare and humanitarian workers returning from outbreak countries who are not presenting symptoms will also be required to report to a local public health authority, monitor their temperature twice a day, report any planned travel, and immediately report any symptoms.  Local public health authorities will decide on a case by case basis if self-isolation is required.  An example of this will be if a healthcare worker, working directly with Ebola infected patients, has a known breach in their personal protective equipment and is known to be at higher risk.

Travellers with Symptoms
Travellers with a history of travel to an Ebola-affected country who are presenting symptoms will be immediately isolated and sent to hospital for a medical examination. The Quarantine Officer will coordinate patient transfers with provincial and local public health authorities.

If the traveller is released from hospital by local health authorities, he or she will still be required to follow up and self-monitor based on their possible exposure to Ebola.

To enhance the healthcare system’s ability to detect and appropriately manage any cases of Ebola that may arrive in Canada, provincial authorities have designated more than 30 treatment centres that are prepared to deal with a patient with Ebola.

*The number of designated treatment centres is subject to change*

Canada’s Quarantine Officers
The Public Health Agency is taking precautions to prevent and control the spread of communicable diseases in Canada, such as Ebola, through administration of the Quarantine Act. The Quarantine Act is administered 24 hours per day, 7 days per week at all points of entry into Canada.

In airports, land crossings and marine ports where a Quarantine Officer is not physically present, the Canada Border Services Officers refer travellers for a health assessment to an on-call Quarantine Officer, who can conduct the assessment remotely.

Quarantine Officers have the necessary training and equipment to conduct a health assessment, including checking for fever, and to determine whether additional public health measures are required.

Source:: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=903029