Why Canada Needs Maritime ForcesBy Fred W. Crickard and Peter T. Haydon Nepean, Ontario: NOAC AbstractThe sea has always been part of Canada's history and today is a vital factor in our economy. Not only is Canada responsible for one of the world's largest ocean domains, but also over 30 percent of our gross domestic product is the result of seaborne trade and ocan industries. Many aspects of ocean use are important to Canada's security and economic well-being Those interests include: a complex dependence on international and domestic maritime trade in which over 350 million tonnes of cargo pass through Canadian ports each year; the management of marine resources and environmental protection in nearly ten million square kilometres of ocean; and the need to keep Canadian waters safe for lawful use. As a major international trading country and as a leading member of the world community, stability at sea and on land is fundamental to our future economic growth and the continuance of our high standard of living. Although the Cold War is over and there seems to be no immediate military threat to Canada, our sovereignty, security, and national interests can still be threatened at sea. Canada is not immune from coercion or acts of violence, from challenges to our sovereignty, or from illegal acts in our waters. Canada and other nations maintain maritime forces to give their governments a range of options for responding to such challenges and other potentially threatening situations. In this, maritime forces have three principles roles:
To undertake those roles in large areas of ocean with only limited forces, Canada has adopted a sea control strategy which integrates the capabilities of modern warships, submarines, and maritime aircraft into teams able to maintain surveillance over those waters and respond quickly and appropriately to any crisis at sea. Because those forces must be ready to undertake a wide range of tasks on short notice, and often in uncertain circumstances, they must be multi-purpose rather than specialized in their configuration. And because those forces are ordered by their government to go into potentially dangerous situations, they must be able to protect themselves and those entrusted to their care. Thus, Canada's national interests are best served by maintaining capable, professional maritime forces that are versatile, multi- purpose, and combat capable. Maritime forces of lesser capability cannot provide the necessary assurance of maritime security or make a meaningful contribution to world stability.
Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Canada's Maritime Heritage
3. Canada's Maritime Vital Interests Oceans Policy
4. Maritime Forces and Ocean Security Global Challenges
5. Principles of Canadian Maritime
Operations Capability Requirements of Maritime Forces
6. Canada's Maritime Forces Today The Mission of Canada's Maritime Forces 7. The Need for Effective Canadian Maritime Forces
About the AuthorsFred W. Crickard RCN (Ret'd) is a retired career officer with 37 years service with the Royal Canadian Navy and the Maritime Command of the Canadian Armed Forces. He served at sea and ashore in various line and staff appointments, commanded three naval warships, attended the National Defence College in Kingston, Ontario, and retired in 1985 as the Deputy Commander Maritime Command. Rear-Admiral Crickard is the Director, Maritime Affairs for the Naval Officers' Association of Canada and is a faculty member of Dalhousie University, serving as a research associate with the Centre for Foreign Policy Studies. He holds an MA (International Relations) from Dalhousie University. Peter T. Haydon is a naval and maritime security analyst associated with Dalhousie University's Centre for Foreign Policy Studies as a Research Fellow and with the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies as a Senior Research Fellow. He is a widely published author, lecturer, and commentator on naval and maritime security issues. He retired from the Canadian Navy in 1988 as a Commander after a thirty-year career in which he served in submarines, ships and on international and national staffs. His last nine years of service were spent as a strategic analyst with National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario and at the Headquarters of the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic. He holds an MA (International Relations) from Dalhousie and a BA from the University of Manitoba. To order this publication, please contact: Naval Officers Association of Canada © Copyright NOAC 1997 |