The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
From The Toronto Star Prime Minister Stephen HarperÕs Canada First Defence Strategy turns out to be more of a motor pool maintenance schedule than a bold new vision for the military in the 21st century. It claims to set out Òa vision for future operations,Ó but fails to deliver. In Halifax Monday, Harper reconfirmed that Ottawa will invest an additional $30 billion in defence over the next 20 years, with annual increases of two per cent starting in 2011. But those hikes were in the last budget, and the Conservatives had already earmarked $20 billion for strategic and tactical airlift, frigate upgrades, ships and tanks. These purchases have been driven by the Afghan war, by HarperÕs focus on Arctic sovereignty, and by rust-out. If the Conservatives have a transformative vision beyond that, it wasnÕt on display Monday. Should the military be configured not only to fight a war in Afghanistan but also to help the United Nations thwart genocide? Should they be a more highly mobile, high-tech expeditionary force, perhaps with amphibious assault vessels? These issues werenÕt mentioned. The main ÒnewsÓ is that Òwe are establishing a 20-year plan with an escalating budget frameworkÓ through 2028, Harper said. That means the generals will get most of the $35 billion they had hoped for by 2025, the Canadian Forces will grow to 100,000 regular troops and reserves (from 90,000 today), and they will have the cash to modernize or replace aging destroyers, frigates, fighter aircraft, land combat vehicles and patrol aircraft. That will improve military readiness. Yet while OttawaÕs spending curve is now clear, its vision is not. Harper listed three priorities: protecting Canadians at home, contributing to continental defence, and bolstering global security and humanitarian missions. ThatÕs not a strategy. ItÕs stating the obvious. The Canada First Defence Strategy justifies Conservative decisions already made to give the generals the big-ticket equipment they lobbied for. And it promises funding a Liberal government would be hard-pressed to roll back. Beyond that, thereÕs not much there.
