Feds announce plans to spend $1.4B on JTF2 site in Ottawa
The federal government plans to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade facilities for the country’s counter-terrorism response unit at its location in west Ottawa.
Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the investment on March 21. The project calls for upgrades to the Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) special operations forces’ facilities at the Dwyer Hill Training Centre.
The 10-year construction project will provide more than 100,000 square metres of purpose-built space to meet JTF 2’s long-term growth, training, and high-readiness operational needs. The scope of work includes: replacing 89 aging and temporary structures with 23 new facilities; renovating seven buildings; and upgrading the site’s utilities.
“This project will more than double the unit’s current work and training spaces with modern, green facilities and create considerable economic opportunities for local businesses and workers in the National Capital Region,” said the minister.
The new facilities will be net-zero ready and built to meet Two Green Globes energy and environmental design standards. New or renovated buildings will include modern office, operations and technical shop spaces, as well as new range, training, warehouse, medical, accommodations, access control, kitchen, mess, ammunition, equipment and vehicle storage facilities.
The federal government had previously planned to move JTF2 to a facility at the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, but after expropriating land for that purpose, it will instead upgrade the existing facility in Ottawa over the next decade.
The Dwyer Hill Training Centre is located about 50 kilometres from the city's downtown.
The construction project will create approximately 2,000 jobs over its duration, with as many as 250 to 300 people working on-site during peak construction periods.
This project will include more than 150 sub-contracts to provide greater opportunities for local and smaller contractors to bid on work. Five percent of the value of all contracts are targeted for award to Indigenous businesses to create economic benefits for Indigenous Peoples.
The construction management contract was awarded to EllisDon Corporation, which will tender all sub-contracts and oversee construction work.
Work is set to begin in May 2023.
The unit’s training and operations will continue on site while the work is underway.