Budget Solidifies Canada as a Zone for War

In contradiction with the wishes of the people who want Canada to be a zone for peace with an anti-war government, the federal budget increases Canada's integration into the U.S. war economy and wars of aggression worldwide. The government proposes to enhance spending on the military, spy agencies and supply lines funnelling material for war into the United States. Egregious amounts are budgeted to expand NATO and NORAD, two institutions embroiling Canadians and Canada in wars for U.S. hegemony.

The Office of the Prime Minister summarized the budget figures for war contained in a government paper and included in the Freeland budget delivered April 16. The paper called "Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence" signals an expansion of war spending annually and in separate contracted amounts to consolidate Canada's position as a zone for war in the service of U.S. militarism and its reckless striving for global hegemony.[1]

Excerpts detailing war spending:

"Around $38 billion over 20 years in the largest upgrade to NORAD in a generation, which will reinforce Canada's support of our continental security alongside our closest ally, the United States, and protect our sovereignty in the North."

Note that Canada's sovereignty is conditioned on obedience to U.S. imperialism and integration into its war economy.

"$11.5 billion over 20 years for Canada's contribution to increasing NATO's common budget and to establish a new regional office in Halifax for NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic.

"$4.4 billion over 20 years to enhance Canada's cyber security by expanding our cyber operations capability and shoring up critical infrastructure to fend off cyber attacks.

"$3.8 billion over 20 years to acquire new critical weapons systems, replenish stocks of ammunition, and improve the Canadian Armed Forces' digital systems."

"$3.5 billion to renew and expand Operation REASSURANCE, the Canadian Armed Forces' largest overseas mission, through which it contributes to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe."

The following amounts are to extend the U.S. proxy war in Ukraine in an attempt to take over Ukraine completely or destroy it while weakening Russia in anticipation of U.S./NATO forces subduing and occupying it as a defeated power:

"Over $14 billion in total support for Ukraine, including $7.4 billion for immediate financial support and $4 billion for military assistance. $910 million to support military operations in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region."

Further expenditures include:

"Restoring an industrial defence capacity, including adding Chantier Davie of Lévis, Quebec as the third strategic partner under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which is renewing Canada's fleet and protecting our Arctic sovereignty.

"Nearly $1 billion over 20 years to support culture change and wellness in the Canadian Armed Forces, and introducing amendments to the National Defence Act to deliver key recommendations to advance culture change.

"More than $11 billion since 2015 to enhance benefits for veterans, including improvements to education, employment, and caregiver supports as well as the introduction of Pension for Life.

"$3.6 billion for nine new CC-330 Husky aircraft to enhance Canada's strategic transport and air-to-air refueling capability.

"$10.4 billion for up to 16 new P-8A Poseidon aircraft, including for the associated infrastructure and training to strengthen Canada's maritime surveillance capability and contribute to NORAD's maritime warning mission.

"$2.5 billion for a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System to provide the Canadian Armed Forces with the capability to remotely engage targets in complex environments.

"In June 2022, the government made a landmark commitment to invest in continental defence and modernize NORAD.

"$6.9 billion to modernize Canada's surveillance systems, including new Arctic and Polar Over the Horizon Radar systems and enhanced space-based surveillance systems to expand situational awareness of Canadian territory and air and maritime approaches.

"$6.4 billion for new long-range and additional short- and medium-range air-to-air weapons systems to maintain the operational advantage of Canadian fighter aircraft against new and evolving air-based threats; $4.1 billion for new command and control capabilities, including a modernized aerospace operations centre and enhanced Polar communications satellites; and, $15.7 billion for infrastructure and support capabilities, including upgrades to NORAD Forward Operating Locations across Canada's North, including in Inuvik, Yellowknife, and Goose Bay, and new infrastructure for the CC-330 and F-35 aircraft.

Documents issued with the budget inform that another project Canada continues to promote under the pretext of defending NATO's Eastern Flank is "Operation REASSURANCE."

They inform that the Prime Minister announced that Canada would be "scaling the Canadian-led Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia to a Brigade as part of Operation REASSURANCE, Canada's contribution to NATO's assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. To deliver on this commitment, Canada is scaling our presence in Latvia to up to 2,200 Canadian Armed Forces personnel and acquiring new critical capabilities on an urgent basis, including: portable anti-tank missile systems; counter uncrewed aircraft systems; and, soldier-portable air defence systems.

"Funding of $1.4 billion for these new critical capabilities was first provided in 2022, with additional funding from the $3.5 billion envelope announced in 2023 for the expansion of Operation REASSURANCE. Deliveries will be starting this year.

"The following capabilities will also be supplied to Canada's mission in Europe in the coming months as part of the expansion of Operation REASSURANCE: over 100 light tactical vehicles; at least 49 Armoured Heavy Support Vehicles; personnel defence precision munitions; and, improved communications and surveillance infrastructure."

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This article was published in

Volume 54 Number 4 - April 2024

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54042.HTM

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