Thank you.
Mr. Chair, as you and my friends around this table are now well aware, probably, my riding of Bay of Quinte hosts 8 Wing at CFB Trenton, which plays a critical role not only in supporting the operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces but also as a major economic and community partner across the Bay of Quinte region.
Last year, Mr. Minister came to our riding and 8 Wing twice and announced massive investments on the base to help support recruitment, to better support our men and women in uniform and to replace aging assets. I can assure the minister that I find nothing embarrassing about our support for and pride in the Canadian Armed Forces and the capabilities of the men and women of 8 Wing and other air mobility units across Canada.
My question is this: Can the minister outline how the government is supporting infrastructure modernization and operational capacity at 8 Wing and elsewhere to ensure that it can continue meeting Canada's domestic and international air mobility needs, while also supporting the civilian workforce and surrounding communities that rely on our base and others?