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January 14, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Security

La solution aux feux de forêt passe-t-elle par une garde partagée canado-australienne?

Marc Godbout

Une idée proposée discrètement en 2016 par le secteur privé au gouvernement fédéral refait surface. Elle consiste à doter le Canada et l'Australie d'équipements en commun pour mieux lutter contre les feux de forêt. Dans le contexte des changements climatiques et de la crise australienne, le concept mérite-t-il d'être exploré à nouveau?

Spencer Fraser est le premier à l'admettre. Quand nous avons présenté le concept, c'était un peu trop tôt, mais les choses ont changé, comme on le voit en Australie.

C'est lui qui, au nom du chantier naval Davie, a soumis, au printemps 2016, une proposition au gouvernement fédéral : construire un navire sur mesure pour transporter entre le Canada et l'Australie 14 nouveaux avions-citernes de Bombardier.

Ces nouveaux équipements seraient en garde partagée et s'ajouteraient aux ressources déjà existantes dans les deux pays.

Leur saison d'incendies est à l'opposée de la nôtre. Notre hiver, c'est leur été et leur hiver, c'est notre été, rappelle le PDG de Federal Fleet, une filiale de Davie.

Le chantier maritime n'était pas l'unique promoteur du projet. Il avait l'appui de Bombardier, l'ancien constructeur de l'avion CL-415.

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Marc Godbout

Publié à 4 h 14

Une idée proposée discrètement en 2016 par le secteur privé au gouvernement fédéral refait surface. Elle consiste à doter le Canada et l'Australie d'équipements en commun pour mieux lutter contre les feux de forêt. Dans le contexte des changements climatiques et de la crise australienne, le concept mérite-t-il d'être exploré à nouveau?


Spencer Fraser est le premier à l'admettre. Quand nous avons présenté le concept, c'était un peu trop tôt, mais les choses ont changé, comme on le voit en Australie.

C'est lui qui, au nom du chantier naval Davie, a soumis, au printemps 2016, une proposition au gouvernement fédéral : construire un navire sur mesure pour transporter entre le Canada et l'Australie 14 nouveaux avions-citernes de Bombardier.

Ces nouveaux équipements seraient en garde partagée et s'ajouteraient aux ressources déjà existantes dans les deux pays.

Leur saison d'incendies est à l'opposée de la nôtre. Notre hiver, c'est leur été et leur hiver, c'est notre été, rappelle le PDG de Federal Fleet, une filiale de Davie.

Le chantier maritime n'était pas l'unique promoteur du projet. Il avait l'appui de Bombardier, l'ancien constructeur de l'avion CL-415.

La proposition avait été soumise à des fonctionnaires fédéraux et à la ministre de l'Environnement de l'époque, Catherine McKenna.

Le document précisait notamment que l'Australie et le Canada obtiendraient ainsi un actif stratégique pour répondre à leurs besoins, dans un contexte de changements climatiques.

Cette garde partagée permettrait aux deux pays de réduire les coûts pour leurs contribuables respectifs. La moitié de la facture serait assumée par les Canadiens, l'autre par les Australiens.

À l'époque, la motivation n'avait pas été assez grande de la part du gouvernement et des bureaucrates pour poursuivre l'idée, mais il n'y avait pas de crise. C'était avant Fort McMurray, avant l'Australie, indique Spencer Fraser.

Deux nations, une solution?

Les conséquences dramatiques des incendies qui ravagent l'Australie ont ravivé un certain intérêt à Ottawa.

Des sources indiquent que deux ministères fédéraux ont reparlé de cette proposition la semaine dernière et qu'au moins un des deux ministères s'est informé auprès de Viking Air, l'entreprise à qui Bombardier a vendu son programme d'avions-citernes en juin 2016.

La proposition, telle que soumise au gouvernement canadien il y a quatre ans, recommandait un arrangement entre le Canada et l'Australie, qui se partageraient les coûts d'un bail annuel de 145 millions de dollars. Davie et Bombardier auraient loué le navire, les avions et fourni les équipages ainsi que le personnel pour l'entretien.

En pleine crise nationale, de plus en plus de voix s'élèvent en Australie pour réclamer davantage de gros avions-citernes.

Le haut-commissariat d'Australie à Ottawa n'a pas répondu à notre demande d'entrevue.

L'Australie essuie des critiques virulentes ces jours-ci. Le pays a un manque chronique d'avions-citernes, soutient notamment l'ancien commissaire aux incendies de l'État de Nouvelle-Galles du Sud, Greg Mullins.

Dans une entrevue accordée sur les ondes du diffuseur public national, M. Mullins a souligné que les besoins de l'Australie vont au-delà de l'expertise du Canada.

Notre premier ministre devrait être au téléphone avec Justin Trudeau du Canada, en ce moment, en demandant : Justin, nous avons besoin de plus de 20 de vos bombardiers d'eau.

Logique?

Cette proposition de 2016 a le mérite d'être étudiée, croit David Perry, analyste et vice-président de l'Institut canadien des Affaires mondiales.

Selon lui, les changements climatiques doivent forcer les gouvernements à revoir la définition de ce qu'est un actif stratégique qui est traditionnellement militaire, comme les avions de chasse ou encore les navires de guerre.

Il est absolument nécessaire de veiller à ce que nous investissions des ressources supplémentaires pour atténuer autant que possible les effets des changements climatiques.

Cette initiative stratégique proposée par le secteur privé soulève aussi certaines des interrogations.

C'est une question pertinente, il faut bien l'évaluer. Mais je ne suis pas convaincu que d'avoir 14 avions supplémentaires soit absolument nécessaire, croit Jonathan Boucher, chercheur au Centre de foresterie des Laurentides.

Le fait d'avoir plus de bombardiers d'eau lors de conditions extrêmes n'aurait pas nécessairement un impact direct.

Jonathan Boucher explique que la meilleure action est d'arriver tôt avant que l'incendie génère trop d'énergie. Mais parfois les conditions sont tellement extrêmes que c'est difficile, voire impossible, de s'y rendre.

Un autre élément pourrait influencer d'éventuelles discussions face à ce genre de proposition. L'organisation et les stratégies varient d'une province à l'autre, rappelle l'expert.

Et c'est sans compter que ce sont les provinces au Canada et les États en Australie qui ont compétence en matière de lutte contre les incendies de forêt par l'intermédiaire d'actifs publics et privés.

Sur papier, la proposition peut sembler alléchante, mais la suite pourrait être politiquement complexe.

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1471807/feux-foret-garde-partagee-canada-australie

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 12, 2019

    February 13, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 12, 2019

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Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. 22nd Century Technologies Inc., Somerset, New Jersey, has been awarded a $8,344,625 firm-fixed-price contract to exercise Option III to support the 33rd Network Warfare Squadron (NWS) at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, in conducting its mission of Defense Cyber Operations (DCO). The contractor will provide plans and implantation in executing the 33rd NWS managed DCO mission. Work will be performed on Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed Feb. 28, 2020. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition and eight offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,344,625 will be obligated at the time of award. The 38th Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8773-15-C-0067). 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