The expansion of a Royal Canadian Air Force base is expected to bring 1,400 jobs to Winnipeg. On Monday, the Manitoba government announced its support of the 17 Wing Winnipeg expansion, saying it will give the project a high priority designation under the province’s modernized hydro regulations. The province noted that the project will enable important upgrades at 17 Wing, allow for future expansion and support up to 1,400 jobs. “The exciting expansion at 17 Wing Winnipeg is exactly the kind of project we want to prioritize when connecting new demand to Manitoba’s hydro grid,” said Premier Wab Kinew in a news release. “Saying ‘no’ to AI hyperscale data centres allows us to say ‘yes’ to nation-building projects like 17 Wing, Winnipeg’s air force base.” According to the province, the expansion involves the construction of a new substation owned by the Department of National Defence. The government explained that the substation will provide “reliable electrical capacity to support long-term CAF modernization initiatives,” including the electrification of the base’s light-duty vehicle fleet. The province added that 17 Wing Winnipeg is a continuously operating military installation with essential responsibilities that include airfield operations, communications and emergency response. The base’s energy demand is driven by heating, ventilation, lighting, air conditioning and ventilation, and mission-critical operations.
