By Matt Nemeth

Defence spending increase could benefit our area

Jun 9, 2017 | 7:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The federal government is aiming to spend an additional $62 billion on defence over the next 20 years which would be one of the biggest military spending hikes in recent memory, and if all goes according to plan it could have a positive economic impact for our area.

“I’m glad to see that the government is taking another look at the unmanned service side of things in terms of procurement of large drones,” said Sterling Cripps Friday morning.

Cripps is the president and founder of Canadian Unmanned Inc., a company that specializes in commercial and civilian drone training.

Though the twenty year Canadian Armed Forces veteran doesn’t expect CUI to benefit right off the bat from a future increase in military spending, he says our area might.

“Knowing the successes that we’ve had in the past at CFB Suffield and with some of the larger companies here in Medicine Hat, it does open a few doors I would think.”

Medicine Hat skateboarders humanitarian efforts in Mexico to hit the big screen

9h ago

UPDATED

Steam-powered passenger train passed through Medicine Hat on Friday

Apr 26, 2024

Medicine Hat Public Library Comic Con taking place May 4

Apr 26, 2024

It’s a thought shared by Invest Medicine Hat, the organization hired by the city to attract business here.

Jon Sookocheff, the director of business development for the group, says any increase in military spending will benefit southeast Alberta because of the base north of the city.

“Suffield is a major driver of the local economy, so any increase in spending is theoretically going to be reflected in the region,” said Sookocheff.

Our close proximity to the Foremost Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) range south of the city is another thing that bodes well for Medicine Hat says Sookocheff.

“Medicine Hat, CFB Suffield, and Foremost represent one of the only clusters of air spaces in North America where you can test, build and fly unmanned aerial vehicles commercially beyond visual line of sight.”

Cripps was instrumental in getting the Foremost UAS range to where it is now.

“Foremost is a great range but it’s civil and commercial use, and probably wouldn’t entertain a military type activity — at this point,” says Cripps.

Because it is capable of entertaining such activity adds Cripps.

“The idea was when we did set up Foremost we have the air space and the storage facilities for very large, long range UAVs of the predator type.”

If history is any indication the military will be working closely with the private and commercial sectors here as they boost spending and add to their drone capabilities.

If everything goes according to plan that is.