Strong Canada-U.S. alliance a necessity, 22 Wing commander says

22 Wing Canadian Forces Base commander Col. Joe Oldford provides insight into new equipment, Canada's role in global conflict and current foreign threats.

At a chamber of commerce breakfast Thursday in North Bay, 22 Wing commander Col. Joe Oldford said the Canada-U.S. alliance must remain strong to focus on protecting North American skies.

Oldford said Canada and the U.S. have a well-developed understanding of where soldiers are deployed on each other’s territory and that it’s an essential part of the North American defence relationship.

“It’s a binational command that, you know, exists nowhere else in the free world,” Oldford told reporters.

“So, it’s very important.”

The two allies are facing some current political tension. U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed the idea of using military force to acquire Canada as the 51st U.S. state but continues to threaten to use “economic force” through a 25 per cent tariff threat on all Canadian goods starting Feb. 1.

The threats have caused much irritation to Canadian leaders like Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Oldford said he wants to keep the politics out of the independent Canadian Armed Forces.

“I’m not really in a position to comment on the political situation,” he said.

“But I can say that we benefit ... from having the United States Air Force members here with us. Our mission is integrated.”

Oldford said 23 American members of the U.S. Air Force currently call North Bay home.

In total, 156 members of the U.S. military are deployed across the country, according to the latest data from the Pentagon’s Defense Manpower Data Center.

Oldford estimates there are more than 375 men and women currently stationed at the base.

“I can tell you the northern mayors that we meet with regularly, they’re envious of the relationship that we have with Canadian Armed Forces,” Mayor Peter Chirico said at the event.

Oldford also gave some insight into the upgrades on the NORAD equipment and spoke about Canada’s role in global conflicts and the country’s current foreign adversaries, including China and Russia.

Last January, the Canadian Air Defence Sector introduced a new cloud-based command-and-control system as part of the modernization plan to scan and survey approaching aircraft.

The hope is to have it be fully functional by early September.

“It’s going to have machine learning capabilities,” Olford said.

“It’s going to be AI-enabled. These are all the tools that the civilian world is using right now.”

Canada’s NORAD upgrading plan will field next-generation sensors, acquire new and advanced air-to-air missiles and deliver new and upgraded infrastructure while investing in science and technology.

This was the fourth breakfast meet and greet hosted by the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce. The first three were with Chirico, Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota and incumbent Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.

Chamber president and CEO Donna Backer said she wanted the business community to understand the base and region’s economy are intertwined.