OT - Wolseley Barracks Heritage Home of the RCR

[Cdnwolf]

Wolseley Barracks, a London landmark established in the 1880s, will close its doors in March 2013, AM980 has learned.

The announcement was made early Wednesday afternoon before approximately 100 employees, both civilian and military personnel. Several dozen civilian workers are expected to lose their jobs permanently, while most of the military members will likely be reassigned.

They're among some 1,119 civilian employees of Canada's Department of Defense receiving layoff notices across the country Wednesday as part of federal budget trimming.

"Based on the information we got yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon directly from the department, they did identify that Wolseley Barracks in London was closing along with four other ASU sites," said John MacLennan, the Union of National Defence Employees President.

Workers in Ontario and Quebec were affected most, but the layoffs were coast-to-coast, the Ottawa Citizen reported. Additionally, more than half of the layoffs involved civilian employees of the army, the report said. All of the employees laid off are members of the Union of National Defense Employees and more cuts from other unions are expected, the newspaper said.

Among the positions affected were clerks, drivers, kitchen staff, heavy truck mechanics, dental hygienists, weapons technicians and radiation safety personnel, the report said. There were no cuts made to military personnel, who reportedly have been told to expect raises, the Citizen said.

In last month's federal budget, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said the Conservative government intends to trim 19,200 civil service jobs during the next three years.

MacLennan says the Wolseley Barracks in London is scheduled to close March 31st, 2013.

However, a London Conservative MP insists the closure talks are premature.

"I want to be clear that 1st Hussars are staying put and the RCR (Royal Canadian Regiment) are staying put," said London West MP Ed Holder.

"From that standpoint I think people can have some confidence that this government has great respect for its military."

London-Fanshawe New Democrat MP Irene Mathyssen says the move will have a serious impact on the community.

“The reality of these cuts means that soldiers will have to take on the jobs currently done by civilian personnel, forcing them to refocus their priorities and burdening them with extra work,” said Mathyssen.

Wolseley Barracks was established in London back in the mid-1880s, and served as the headquarters of Number-1 District Depot in 1939 when war was declared on Germany.

The fate of the building itself remains unclear, although it's a recognized and classified Federal Heritage building on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.