MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF RCSU EASTERN
DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW
CLOSURE OF CSTC HMCS QUEBEC
The Minister of National Defence has unveiled the conclusions and decisions resulting from the Defence Strategic Review. One of those decisions is to close the Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre at Mont-Bénilde in 2013 and transfer some courses to other CSTCs in Eastern Region and others to Ontario and/or Nova Scotia.
The closing of CSTC HMCS Quebec will take effect at the same time as the end of the lease between DND and the corporation des Frères des écoles chrétiennes, on 31 May 2013. We are awaiting further developments, but in the meantime the following are the key messages related to the decision and the chronology of events to come between now and the closing date:
The normal activities of CSTC HMCS Quebec will be held in summer 2012 at Mont-Bénilde;
The other activities on Eastern Region’s training year calendar that were planned for Mont-Bénilde will continue until 31 March 2013;
Our nautical training courses will continue and the personnel assigned to them will continue their activities at Mont-Bénilde until 31 March 2013;
The Chief of Staff (COS) of RCSU Eastern will shortly be forming a working group (WG) to provide me with recommendations for the future location of our nautical training courses and our permanent personnel after 31 March 2013 (Mont-Bénilde or another site);
The COS of RCSU Eastern will form a second WG to provide me with recommendations for Sea Cadet summer courses to be transferred in 2013 to one or more other CSTCs in Eastern Region and to CSTCs in other regions (identification of courses and training needs, recommended CSTCs, supervisory personnel and working structure); and
Eastern Region Sea Cadets who take courses outside the region will receive supervision and instruction in French.
I require the cooperation of everyone involved in order to transform this challenge into an innovative project that will catch the interest of the Sea Cadets and contribute to retaining them in the Cadet Program. I am convinced that some of the advanced courses that will be given outside our region in French will enable us to offer the more senior Sea Cadets an excellent opportunity to engage in new experiences in a nautical environment that is stimulating and rich in challenges. Meanwhile, our CSTCs in Eastern Region will welcome the Navy CIC officers and the other Sea Cadets while preserving the character of the element.
I am committed to personally providing the Sea Cadet corps personnel and our partner, the Navy League of Canada (Quebec Division), with updates whenever there are new developments.
In the meantime, internal requests for information should be directed to the COS of RCSU Eastern, LCol Carlo De Ciccio, at 1 800 681 8180, extension 7029. Requests from the media should be forwarded to the Public Affairs Officer, LCdr Pierre Babinsky, at 514 501 0902 or pierre.babinsky@forces.gc.ca.
J.R. Sulik
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Officer, RCSU Eastern