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While it is not yet possible to make any accurate estimates of the total cost of the project, it has been roughly calculated that approximately $800,000.00 will be required, in addition to the cost of acquisition of the land, for the provision of buildings and services. To this will have to be added the cost of a landing field for aircraft, if it should be decided that this is necessary.
Although the details as to the financial arrangements between the Canadian and United Kingdom Governments have not yet been fully worked out, the intention is that the Base should be in operation, if at all possible, during the coming Summer. To this end, it is necessary that the property should be made available at the earliest possible date.
The Minister, on the advice of the Acting Deputy Minister of National Defence (Army) therefore recommends that authority be granted for the payment to the Province of Alberta of a sum of $600,000.00 for which the Province will grant to the Department of National Defence a 99 year lease, at an annual rental of one dollar, of the lands known as the Tilley East Area, comprising about 700,000 acres; funds for the above purpose to be made available for the time being from Army and Air Service appropriations, in proportions to be decided between the Ministers of the two services; this provision to be subject however to readjustment in the light of experience which may be gained regarding the relative degrees of use and benefit which the respective Defence Services may receive from the Establishment hereby authorized.
The Committee concur in the foregoing recommendation and submit the same for approval.
DEPUTY GOVERNOR GENERAL
