Conservatives would expand Bagotville airbase

Last Updated: Tuesday, January 3, 2006 | 9:04 AM ET

CBC News

The Conservatives revealed more details about their defence policy on Monday as Stephen Harper said a government led by him would establish an army unit at the Canadian Forces Base in Bagotville, Que.

Taking his campaign to the heart of sovereigntist territory, Harper promised to increase the size of the airbase in northern Quebec, add 650 personnel and continue to upgrade the CF-18 fighter jets.

Harper said it's good news in a region of high unemployment.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper during a news conference in Quebec City, Tuesday, Jan. 3. (CP Photo/Paul Chiasson)

The local Conservative candidate, Jean-Pierre Blackburn, won the riding during the Mulroney years in the 1980s. But the Bloc Québécois has held the seat, and this region since 1993.

Harper believes, nonetheless, that his party has a chance to win some seats in Quebec.

People in this region and throughout the province, he said, want to replace the Liberal government in Ottawa. The Conservative party, he argued, is the only one that can do that.

Harper began the second half of the election campaign by outlining the five areas he would act on first, and the military didn't make the cut even though he has made several announcements on defence policy during the campaign.

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Harper said he would get to the military and other areas not in his top priorities list, assuming his government would last long enough.

"Obviously there will be other things," he said. "The stronger and longer the mandate, the more we'd be able to do."

Some polls published on Tuesday suggest the Conservatives are tied with the Liberals. Harper, however, wouldn't comment except to say he tells the volunteers to ignore the numbers and listen instead to what voters are saying on the doorsteps across the country.