Stephen Harper says a re-elected Conservative government would re-establish a Canadian Armed Forces reserve unit in Yukon.
The Prime Minister made the announcement today while visiting Whitehorse.
“Our government has made the rebuilding of the Canadian military a priority since we took office,” Harper said in a news release.
“The establishment of a reserve unit in Yukon will provide important enhanced capacity for the Canadian Armed Forces in the north as part of its mission to defend Canada’s sovereignty.”
The Conservatives say the new unit would specialize in northern survival skills for Arctic operations, receive training for emergencies like natural disasters and support the Canadian Rangers already in the Yukon.
The old Yukon regiment was disbanded in 1968 under the Liberal government.
“These initiatives to expand our reserve force will permit the Canadian Armed Forces to draw on the varied skill-sets possessed by Canadians in the private sector who are also anxious to serve their country through service in the military,” Harper said.
“The initiative we are proposing will restore an important connection between the people of Yukon and the Canadian Armed Forces and provide important additional military capacity in Yukon.”