In his 1997-98 Annual Report on the State of the Canadian Forces, the Chief of the Defence Staff said, "Operational effectiveness requires a balance in four key areas: leadership, training, equipment, and quality of life." In October 1998, the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs (SCONDVA), released a report containing 87 recommendations related to the social and economic affairs affecting Canadian Forces (CF) members and their families. The importance of the recommendations which impact on the quality of life, welfare and morale of all members of the CF, must be given high priority. Hopefully the SCONDVA report is one which will not be permitted to gather dust. To learn more about the report, you can access it on the Internet at http://www.dnd.ca.

Few of us would argue with the observations made by the Massey Commission, the CDS, and the SCONDVA. Many however, would question the committment the government has made to ensure the defence budget will be properly funded to deal with the issues mentioned in the three reports. The reports infer that the government has important responsibilities which many of us say have at one time or another been ignored. There is the responsibility to provide our armed forces with proper equipment and training to do its job. At a minimum, this calls for the expenditure of funds to replace overage and obsolete equipment. Once new equipment is delivered, there is a responsibility to train the troops in its proper use. The final and most important responsibility, is the creation of a work environment which ensures a good quality of life for those who serve in the Canadian Forces.

The government has always made niggardly progress with respect to the acquisition of much needed military equipment. Witness the fact that military equipment is often more than 30 years old before it is replaced. Every time the government has a financial problem and it seeks to reduce spending, it hits the defence budget the hardest. When this happens, the military planners are sent off on another personnel reduction, restructuring and amalgamation venture, accompanied by another extension to the life of overage, obsolete equipment. The never ending rebuilding exercise destroys the confidence of serving CF members. The quality of life issues mentioned in the SCONDVA report, have deteriorated to the point where, as mentioned by the CDS in his report, "many of our personnel are choosing to leave the military because of the financial and quality of life attractions available elsewhere."

The problem which has confronted Canada's defence planners has always been one of obtaining sufficient funds to fulfil the obligations the government assigns to the Canadian Forces. The longer the defence budget cutting process continues, the less likely the Canadian Forces will be able to fulfil the wide variety of missions the government assigns them at home and overseas.

The benign neglect of successive federal governments has resulted in a situation which was referred to in the 1987 White Paper on Defence. The situation described, after completion of a review of Canada's military commitments, stated: "Its review has confirmed that we are unable to meet those commitments fully and effectively--that after decades of neglect there is a significant 'commitment-capability gap.' Much of the equipment of the Canadian Forces is already old and ineffective against current threats. Modernization programs have not kept pace with technological change."

Following the candid comments contained in the 1987 White Paper, successive governments continued to make large cuts to the DND budget. The CDS' 1997-98 Annual Report tells us there has been a 23 percent decrease in the defence budget between the fiscal years 1993-94 and 1999-2000. This decline represents a 30% drop in purchasing power after the applicable allowance for inflation. No wonder the Canadian Forces is experiencing problems.

In fairness it must be said that following the release of the 1987 White Paper, some corrective action has taken place. The Navy's Halifax-class frigate program has been completed; new Kingston-class MCDVs have been delivered to the fleet; a deal has finally been brokered to obtain the Upholder-class subs from the UK, and the Air Force will receive new SAR helicopters sometime around 2001.

There are however, several important programmes waiting approval for completion. A contract for the purchase of the maritime helicopters has to be negotiated. The Army is waiting for new vehicles and a range of state-of-the-art weapons systems. The Air Force must have an upgrading programme for their Aurora maritime patrol aircraft.

Meanwhile, the quality of life for our troops and their families continues to worsen. Pay and allowances have seen some minor adjustments, but have not maintained parity with the Public Service. Serving CF members have experienced housing and accommodation problems. An increasing number of support service issues related to the changing mores of our society have appeared. Corrective action must not be delayed while politicians weigh the political implication of making the long overdue changes.

The recent crash of a Labrador helicopter resulting in the loss of six crewmen, focused attention on how an apparent equipment problem impacts on troop morale. The same event has reminded Canadians that an ill-advised decision made by Mr. Chretien in the midst of an election campaign, cancelled the EH 101 programme. A move which many, rightly or wrongly, claim accounted for the disaster which affected a group of Air Force families.

The SCONDVA report has arrived on the scene at a time when there is a pressing need for the government to correct many defence problems. The report identifies a wide range of quality of life issues which confront members of the Canadian Forces on a daily basis. The media (which has paid surprisingly little attention to the matter) and the Canadian public, must not be tempted to disregard the report. Least of all, the Cabinet must not allow it to sit on the shelf.

The government should keep in mind a statement made in 1995 by then-Minister of National Defence, David Collenette, when he said: "Canada has a responsibility to ensure that the men and women of the Canadian Forces have the proper equipment to protect them, and effectively undertake the tasks we assign them."

Shortly before the release of the SCONDVA report, the Chief of the Defence Staff confirmed that improving quality of life for members of the armed forces is the number one priority of the Canadian Forces. Hopefully the next federal budget will provide adequate funding for the quality of life programme; funding which must come as an addition to the present forecasted budget for DND.

Provision for the quality of life programme, important though it is, must not jeopardize equipment replacement programmes targeted to improve the training and leadership issues which form a comprehensive part of the overall plan to improve the Canadian Forces. They must each be dealt with separately, with the merit each deserves.

Having said that, quality of life issues warrant special attention. They have been with the Canadian Forces for all too many years. It is not intended here to devote time and space to a detailed discussion of the many issues raised in the SCONDVA report. Suffice to say the report dealt with a range of compensation and benefit issues; housing and accommodation, including single quarters; poor condition of permanent married quarters; family access to an adequate range of support services; and, provision for the injured, retirees and veterans.

Correction of the issues mentioned in the report calls for financial and moral commitment and a display of compassion on the part of the government. It must confirm that appropriate steps are being taken to recognize the unique nature of military service--a factor which most politicians, and at times the media, have been prone to ignore.

It is a given that maximum operational effectiveness is attained when the military are well trained, have good equipment, and are satisfed that their quality of life allows them to adequately provide for their families.

The 1994 Defence White Paper allowed that Canada would maintain a multipurpose, combat-ready and capable force. Meanwhile, Canada continues to participate in United Nations and NATO operations. There is ample evidence that we have played the game to the fullest. However, the situation is moving slowly to the point where our troops will have every justification to ask--how committed is the government to deal with the problems which have been created as a consequence of heavy cuts to the DND budget?

The CDS' Annual Report rightly identifies all the good things that have been accomplished by an armed force which is continuously strapped for proper funding. It provides us with an assessment of the situation the military has been forced to live with. The conclusion to the CDS' report makes interesting reading. It states: "Despite an increasingly complex and demanding range of operational activities, every possible effort is being made to promote and manage the changes needed to ensure the CF maintains the operational capacities required to fulfil its assigned missions." He tells us that many structural changes have taken place as part of the effort to ease the financial pressure. He recognizes that quality of life issues have accounted for many individuals choosing to leave the military.

The CDS concludes by saying, "Ensuring that the CF remains a viable force in the future depends on continued, responsible investments in all of these areas (i.e., quality of life, training and equipment) as well as strong leadership .... In the end, the CF is comprised of women and men who are dedicated to their jobs. They need the right climate, the right leadership, and the right tools to do their jobs."

It is hoped the government will react to the CDS' assessment of what is required to maintain a highly professional force equipped with modern military equipment. The government must be prepared to deal with the quality of life issue and to provide the funding necessary to give the country a well-balanced force, capable of safely fulfilling the missions it will be assigned in future.