Rinaldi visits military base in Alert

By VALERIE MACDONALD, NORTHUMBERLAND TODAY

Posted 11 months ago

NORTHUMBERLAND -- Taking a trip to Canadian Forces Station Alert in Nunavut was one of the ways Northumberland-Quinte West MPP Lou Rinaldi says he is "flying their colours" and working closely with military personnel and families living in his riding.

"I have been trying to work closely with the military," addressing issues such as morale after the arrest and conviction for murder and other crimes committed by the former commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Rinaldi said last week.

He said although the responsibility for the Trenton base in primarily federal, he has been in touch with Colonel David Cochrane who, in January, invited him on the flight north, Rinaldi said.

It was total darkness, and cold during the 25 hours he was there in mid-February, but resembled a very bright moonlit night in Northumberland because there was a full moon, Rinaldi said. During his visit, 50 military personnel and 25 civilians were on the "listening post" where military exercises involving NATO countries are also staged, Rinaldi said. Environment Canada has an installation there, too.

Rinaldi said the military personnel who are stationed at Alert on six-month cycles are "really committed to what they do."

Describing Alert as the "most northerly permanently inhabited location in the world," Rinaldi briefly outlined his visit to the Ontario Legislature this month and thanked Cochrane for the opportunity to see it for himself.

vmacdonald@northumberlandtoday.com