Goose Bay radar project in trouble

Plans to put an X-Band radar in Goose Bay, Labrador for the NORAD defence system are now up in the air since Canada’s decision in February not to participate in the Ballistic Missile Defence Program.

The BMD missile shield would use X-Band radar to track incoming enemy missiles headed to North America and rely on missiles to shoot them down.

Recently, U.S. officials cancelled an information briefing on a proposal to install the missile defence radar in Goose Bay.

The radar would be able to spot incoming missiles from the Middle East three minutes more quickly than U.S.-based radar.

The construction of the radar would have created 340 short-term jobs and 100 permanent positions.

Happy Valley-Goose Bay councillor Dean Clarke said in the Labradorian the base’s closure would cause “devastating effects and serious social implications.”

John Efford, regional minister for Newfoundland and Labrador, said “everyone is on edge in Goose Bay… and the Government of Canada is going to do everything possible to keep the base operational.”

Since NATO nations that train at the Goose Bay air base have said they intended to pull out, Canadian defence officials have been scouting for new customers.