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Harper Calls for 'Canada First' Defence Strategy |
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Written by CPC
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Tuesday, 13 December 2005 |
Conservative leader Stephen Harper today announced that a new Conservative government will significantly increase defence spending as part of a “Canada First” defence strategy. Part of the new strategy will involve enhancing Canadian sovereignty by acquiring strategic lift aircraft, creating a new airborne battalion, and doubling the size of Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART).
“Our Forces stand on guard for us, both at home and around the world. So we must stand up for them,” said Harper. “The men and women who put on the uniform of Canada must have the tools they need to protect themselves and do their job.”
Harper announced that a Conservative government will increase defence spending significantly over the current baseline, with spending reaching $1.8 billion over currently projected levels by 2010-11.
Harper noted that Canada’s lack of strategic lift capability has left Canada to rely on borrowed American aircraft or rented Russian aircraft to deploy troops on disaster assistance, and humanitarian and military operations, including the Manitoba floods in 1997, the Quebec ice storm in 1998, the Afghanistan mission in 2002, and the South Asian tsunami relief operation in 2005.
“To be truly sovereign, we must be able to deploy our forces and equipment, where they are needed, when they are needed,” said Harper. “To put it bluntly, hitchhikers may get to their destination, but they don’t get to pick the route or the timing.”
Harper outlined several pieces of the Conservative “Canada First” defence plan designed to improve the effectiveness and deployability of the Canadian Forces, using CFB Trenton as a hub for aerial deployment. Measures will include:
- Acquisition of a fleet of at least three strategic lift aircraft, based at CFB Trenton, and continued replacement of Canada’s tactical airlift fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft and fixed wing search-and-rescue aircraft at CFB Trenton and elsewhere.
- Creation of a 650 strong airborne battalion, to be stationed at CFB Trenton, available for rapid or difficult deployments for emergency, humanitarian, or military operations.
- Doubling the size and capacity of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) based at CFB Kingston, to enhance international disaster relief capability.
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