The Canadian Rangers will have new rifles within five years designed and manufactured by Colt Canada, an Ontario gun manufacturer, the federal government announced Sept. 2.
A request for proposals was issued to Colt Canada, Canada's long-standing and competitively selected Small Arms Strategic Source and Centre of Excellence, under the Munitions Supply Program. The Kitchener-based company will manage the design competition and provide 125 rifles based on the winning design for field testing during Op NANOOK in the summer of 2015. Following that, and incorporating any recommended design changes, a second contract for the production of more than 6,500 rifles will be issued to Colt Canada, which will also manufacture spare parts and accessories like cases and trigger locks.
The value of the contracts, which are expected to support about 55 jobs in the Kitchener area, will depend upon the selected design.
"Our government is committed to Canada's northern sovereignty, and supporting the important work of our Canadian Rangers," said Minister of National Defence Rob Nicholson, MP for Niagara Falls, in a press release announcing the contracts. "Today's announcement, the launch of a rifle design competition, is a key step toward equipping these brave men and women for their specialized work and environment well into the future."
The Canadian Rangers, a sub-component of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Reserve, help ensure the safety and security of northern, isolated and coastal communities across Canada. They currently use Lee Enfield rifles, which have been in service for approximately 50 years, but replacement parts for those rifles are becoming less readily available.
The replacement rifles, which will be phased into use between 2015 and 2019, will be designed to operate effectively in temperatures well below freezing.
"I am very pleased that through this contract with Colt Canada, our government is continuing to create jobs and economic growth in the Kitchener area while also supporting the Canadian Rangers in their defence of the North," said Minister of Public Works and Government Services Diane Finley.
There are approximately 5,000 Canadian Rangers in 200 communities across Canada, many of whom are aboriginal, and they speak 26 dialects and languages collectively.
Manitoba is served by the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, which also covers British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Manitoba communities served by Canadian Rangers include Snow Lake, Lynn Lake, Lac Brochet, Churchill, Gillam, Shamattawa, Grand Rapids and St. Theresa Point.
The Rangers' motto is "Vigilans," meaning "the watchers." Members report unusual activities or sightings, conduct surveillance or sovereignty patrols as required, and participate in search and rescue operations or provide support to disaster relief and humanitarian operations.
Canadian Rangers also instruct and supervise youth in the Junior Canadian Rangers program and participate in local events like Canada Day and Remembrance Day.
New Canadian Rangers members go through 10 days of orientation training and Canadian Rangers instructors and patrol leaders also participate in additional training. Canadian Rangers practise marksmanship and learn the history and traditions of the CAF. Each Canadian Ranger patrol participates in at least one on-land exercise per year, which may last anywhere from a few hours to a week or more. Some members of the Canadian Rangers in Northern Manitoba recently participated in Exercise Spirit Way, a search and rescue training exercise staged by the Arctic Response Company Group (ARCG) involving more than 100 reservists near Thompson.
