Minister Sajjan inaugurates the new B Jetty at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt

February 5, 2025 – Esquimalt, British Columbia – Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, marked the opening of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt’s new B

Jetty, on behalf of the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and Quebec Lieutenant.

The $1.1 billion A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project includes the demolition of the existing A and B jetties and replacing them with larger, more modern and robust structures. This will allow CFB Esquimalt to accommodate the new ships the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) will receive through Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, including the Joint Support Ships and the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships.
The construction of the new B Jetty created close to 1,300 jobs throughout its four-year duration. These jobs will be sustained with the construction of A Jetty, as the replacement of B and A jetties is being carried out successively to maintain the RCN’s ample berthing space during construction.

The A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project is expected to be completed in 2031. The new infrastructure uses durable, sustainable materials and was built using modern technologies and construction practices. The structure was designed to be responsive to the accelerating pace of climate change and to withstand the effects of an earthquake or rising waters from a tsunami.

Quotes

“This milestone will ensure the Royal Canadian Navy has the critical infrastructure it needs at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt to accommodate the next generation of Canadian naval vessels. This is an important milestone in the A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project, and I am proud of the progress being made in continuing to grow our military capabilities.”

The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

“CFB Esquimalt is the second largest military base in Canada and the Defence Team members stationed there require the appropriate infrastructure to support their vital work in defending our country. The investment in the Royal Canadian Navy by our government, the largest since the Second World War, includes modern infrastructure that can support our newly acquired fleets.”

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

“Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the federal government is committed to ensuring that members of the Royal Canadian Navy are equipped with the modern ships required to carry out their important work defending and protecting Canada. Today’s opening of B Jetty at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is an exciting moment, as this key piece of infrastructure will accommodate the future Navy fleet that is being delivered under the Strategy.”

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant

"I’m thrilled to see the re-opening of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt’s B Jetty. This significant upgrade ensures that our sailors have a modern, sustainable, and resilient jetty from which to operate the future fleet in defence of Canadian waters and interests.”

Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy  

Quick facts

• Through Our North, Strong and Free’s $10.2 billion investment in current and new infrastructure the Government of Canada is providing the Canadian Armed Forces with the modern tools they need to meet today’s and future challenges.  

• The A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project supports the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and will replace the ship berthing facilities known as A Jetty and B Jetty, which are over 80 years old and past their intended service life.

• This year is the 15th anniversary of the NSS. Since 2010, 8 large vessels and 34 small vessels have been delivered by Canadian shipyards to the RCN and the Canadian Coast Guard, and another 6 large vessels are under construction now. NSS contracts awarded between 2012 and 2023 are estimated to have contributed close to $30 billion ($2.3 billion annually) to Canada’s gross domestic product, and to have created or maintained more than 20,400 jobs annually between 2012 and 2024.

• In 2017, the demolition and disposal of the old B Jetty structure was completed in coordination with remediation work to remove contaminated sediments from the harbour seabed. The dredging work was followed by underwater rock removal to prepare the site for the construction of the new B Jetty.

• Construction of the new B Jetty began in late June 2020, and it entered service after reaching initial operating capability in December 2024. Work has now shifted to A Jetty.

• Jetties provide space for marine vessels to berth and serve to protect the shoreline by acting as a barrier against erosion from currents.

• CFB Esquimalt and Maritime Forces Pacific contribute nearly $600 million annually to the local economy.

• Just west of Victoria, B.C., CFB Esquimalt was first established as a military installation by the Royal Navy in 1855 and has been serving the RCN since its inception in 1910. Encompassing 12,000 acres and 1,500 buildings, it is the second-largest military base in Canada and home to one of the country’s three naval formations.

• The base provides support services to all ships and more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel of both Maritime Forces Pacific, who maintain multi-purpose, combat-capable maritime forces, and Joint Task Force Pacific, which focuses on the defence of Canada and all civil support operations in the Pacific.