‘We need it now’: Unifor disappointed no mention of LAVs in Carney military pledge

Liberal Leader Mark Carney's announcement in an investment in the Canadian Armed Forces has left out London-built LAVs, CTV's Bryan Bicknell explains.

Liberal leader Mark Carney pledged to beef up military spending by building submarines, heavy icebreakers, and expanding drone capabilities on Tuesday.

“Canadian companies benefit from Canadian procurements, an end to sending dollar after dollar south of the border to a nation that is threatening us. They will use Canadian steel and aluminum. They will use Canadian suppliers and companies,” said Carney while speaking in Halifax.

It’s what he didn’t say that had some in the London area manufacturing industry expressing disappointment.

Unifor Local 27, which represents workers at defence manufacturer General Dynamics Land Systems in London, said it has been hoping for a contract to build 400 light armoured vehicles.

If it doesn’t come through the plant could run out of work by next year, said Jeff Skinner, chairperson of the GDLS unit for Unifor Local 27’s 485 members and their families.

“It’s imperative that we get it soon, to try and keep the members there employed that we have now... We all work hard, and we’re very proud to build for the military, keeping our soldiers safe, so it’s important to us,” Skinner explained.

“And it’s not even just the jobs from GDLS, it’s all the spinoff jobs,” commented Lindsay Mathyssen. The London Fanshawe NDP incumbent served as the party’s defence critic in the last term of parliament. She says the domestic defence industry needs more guarantees.

“I’ve heard this a lot from industries across the country, that there’s this seemingly boom and bust, and there are these contract dependent job spikes in terms of the defence industry - and we need to ensure that we have that consistency,” said Mathyssen.

In the meantime, Skinner said Defence Minister Bill Blair has indicated a contract for Light Armoured Vehicles could be in the works soon. He’s hoping that comes to fruition after the election.

“It’s more of a concern of the timeline, right? We need it now. They said, ‘well it’s coming.’ So, we’re just hoping it will come sooner than later,” said Skinner.

CTV News reached out directly to General Dynamics, but the defence manufacturer declined to comment, citing sensitivity around the ongoing election.