ALLIANCE DEFENCE POLICY ATTACKS CANADA'S PAPER TIGER

By Fred R. Fowlow

The recently released Canadian Alliance Party policy document, Canada Strong and Free: A Defence Strategy for the New Millennium, tells us that Canada's defence policy needs complete reform. It reminds readers that for nearly three decades, the Canadian Forces have been neglected and systematically demilitarized through a combination of bad policy and neglect. Nothing new here.

Many of the comments contained in the policy document have previously been made by defence analysts who suggest our government has deliberately allowed the military to be underfunded, undermanned, poorly equipped and become a demoralized force.

Since 1993-94, overseas peacekeeping deployments have increased at a time when total force strength has been cut from 78,000 to less than 60,000. Likewise, spending on defence, as a percent of GDP, has been reduced by one third. Sadly, when compared with the defence effort of our NATO and UN friends, Canada's performance is bordering on disgrace. Of the twenty-nine Alliance policy recommendations, fourteen are a frontal attack on the malaise they claim permeates the forces The remainder are equipment replacement issues related to the army, navy and air force requirements.

As for the maritime needs, Alliance places the Sea King replacement at the top of the list for immediate contract action, followed by replacement of the Tribal-class destroyers and construction of refuelling/support ships. Of special note is the recommendation that new under way support ships must possess a secondary capability to deploy, support and sustain troops tasked to operate overseas.

Recognizing the reality of the situation, completion of the equipment replacement programmes will proceed in stages extended over a period of up to fifteen years. The programme will of necessity call for increased funding of $2 billion spread over a two year period. The entire amount of new funding will be directed exclusively to equipment acquisition, operational training and expansion of the forces to meet immediate operational requirements.

Focusing on what is identified as the leadership crisis we find the statement: "The present internal structure of the Canadian Forces seems to be more oriented to meeting peacetime goals and objectives set by the federal bureaucracy which often has little to do with the real operational requirements." A way of saying Alliance policy is aimed at reducing what is refers to as a bureaucratization and demilitarization process which has hit the forces in recent years; a happening which they claim detracts from the primary mission of our armed forces which must be prepared to fight and win wars.

One may not agree with everything recommended by the Alliance party. However, it appears to have set out a good starting point for debate and action. It ignites the charge that the government must change its attitude from one which says, defence is not a priority, to one which assigns the task of rebuilding our forces to people who actually understand and believe the military must not be over-powered by the advocates of social engineering-a process which, the Alliance policy recommends, must come to an end.

(Fred Fowlow is Director Maritime Affairs, NOAC Calgary Branch.)

(Originally Published in Vol. VII, No. 11, Summer 2000 issue of Starshell)