Canada has been starving its military of the funding needed to operate effectively and uphold the nation's treaty obligations. Now word is getting out to the Canadian public about the implications of hollowing out their armed forces.
Canada's army, navy and air force are facing a funding shortfall of up to half a billion dollars, defence sources told the National Post, and the military is recommending drastic measures to make up the difference, including closing some of the largest bases in the country.The federal government is stalling the release of internal documents that outline the looming financial crisis, but military sources said the reports indicate that in the fiscal year beginning on April 1, the air force expects to be $150-million short of funds needed to fulfill its commitments, the navy will be $150-million shy of its needs and the army will be as much as $200-million short.
The military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the reports foresee a situation so dire that they recommend curtailing operations, dry-docking ships and mothballing vehicles or aircraft and closing at least four Canadian Forces bases.
This news is consistent with the predictions made in a provocative study issued last year.
The Canadian air force, as well as either the army or navy, could cease to exist within five years unless the new government under Paul Martin greatly boosts defence funding, warns a study from Queen's University.The bleak study, entitled Canada Without Armed Forces?, says years of penny-pinching has left the Canadian Forces on the brink of collapse, and the problem is so bad it could take an entire generation to recover.
"There is not much Canadians can do to save this situation, at least not in the term of the next government or even the government after that," says the report, released Wednesday.
"The descending slope is too steep and it will take too long to turn it upwards for tomorrow's government to benefit from altered policies."
"The problem will rapidly disarm foreign policy as Canada repeatedly backs away from international commitments because it lacks adequate military forces," says the report.
Canada was there at D-Day and many other tough battles on behalf of freedom. We'll miss having them at our side in the future. Maybe Canada's voters would like to do something about this?
Posted by Alan at February 24, 2004 11:40 AM