When the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) was scaled back in the 1990s, the government committed itself to having a land force base in every region of Canada, including B.C.
While the primary role of the CAF is to militarily defend Canada and its Allies, with its organizational and communicational abilities, it also has the ability and equipment to react quickly and efficiently to provide emergency assistance to the people of this country.
However, B.C. lost its only land force base in Chilliwack. This left the province dependent on Edmonton, across the mountains in Alberta, as the closest source of military support to react to emergencies here.
If CFB Chilliwack still existed, we could have had communicational and organizational elements on the road and in Lytton within a few hours to help the people there.
Rollie Keith
Sardis
READ MORE: 90% of Lytton destroyed in wildfire, injuries reported
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