Goose Bay base not a priority: military

Repairing an aging federal air base in Labrador is not important for some members of the Canadian military, according to documents obtained by CBC News.

"Infrastructure at Goose Bay would be an extremely low priority. Little would be accomplished at Goose Bay and infrastructure reduction measures would have to be taken," wrote Major Nanette Fleissen in a February 2009 letter advising senior military officials about air base repairs.

The internal Department of National Defence documents show the 5 Wing Goose Bay air base requires about $128-million worth of work.

The documents show the base's heat system is so outdated that the military can no longer buy replacement parts. The replacement cost for that alone is $40 million.

If the military wants to keep operating as a base for fighter jets, it needs a $20 million resurfacing job on the base's second runway.

The letters also show that the ramp area where planes are parked is falling apart and needs $30 million worth of repairs.

CBC News asked for an update regarding these two-year-old documents but DND officials in Newfoundland and Labrador have not responded to requests for an interview.