Canada's Subservient Defence Policy

Billions Spent on Military Procurement

On August 4, the Department of National Defence (DND) announced the beginning of production for 360 Armoured Combat Support Vehicles (ACSV) at the General Dynamic Land Systems (GDLS) production facilities in London, Ontario. GDLS is a subsidiary of General Dynamics USA, the fifth largest weapons manufacturer in the U.S. The contract is valued at $2 billion. According to DND, "This fleet can be used in a wide variety of roles, such as part of Canada's contribution to NATO's assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe, or in the Canadian Armed Forces' response to natural disasters in Canada."

This announcement followed another from DND on July 31 on the delivery of the first of six Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) for the Canadian Navy, the HMCS Harry DeWolf, built by the Irving Shipyards in Halifax. DND notes: "Specifically designed to patrol Canada's offshore waters and northernmost regions, this new class of ship will be at the core of an enhanced Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Arctic presence, effectively complementing the capabilities of our other current and future warships through critical reconnaissance and surveillance activities. In addition to highly versatile platforms that will enable the ship to support a variety of domestic and international missions."

Apart from the six AOPS, Irving is building two coast guard vessels. Together they make up the first part of the "Combat Package" that was awarded to Irving under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) which was announced by the former Harper Conservatives and now made operational and expanded under the Trudeau Liberals who have shown themselves to be even greater warmongers than the Harperites. The initial cost of $38 billion for the NSS has almost doubled to $70 billion to date and will likely increase to many more billions.

Additionally, Canada is poised to purchase 88 new jet fighters from one of three armaments monopolies, at a cost of $19 billion, which is being opposed in a national campaign led by Canadian Voice of Women for Peace and their allies.

All of the tens of billions being spent on boosting of military hardware is being justified in the name of Canada's defence policy under the Liberals -- "Strong, Secure, Engaged" -- adopted in 2018, which aims, among other things, to increase "significant and strategic long-term investments that will ensure the Canadian Armed Forces continues to function as an agile, and combat-ready force, capable of making tangible contributions and delivering on its commitments at home and around the world." The Liberals committed $62.3 billion over the next 20 years to boost Canada's military under their new policy. In an effort to divert the anti-war movement in Canada, these large amounts of money being handed over in pay-the-rich schemes to Irving Shipbuilding Inc., GDLS and others are being justified in the name of job creation and boosting the economy! Under the so-called Industrial and Regional Benefits (IRB) Policy, introduced in 2014, companies that are awarded "military procurement contracts must undertake business activity in Canada equal to the value of the contract."

Even as Canadians are in the midst of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic which is far from over, the Liberals are quietly pushing through their military procurement. In this they have the support of the other cartel parties in the Parliament, all of whom are on side with Canada's foreign policy based on modern day colonialism, imperialism and war under the dictate of U.S. imperialism and its instruments NATO and NORAD. This is the essence of the "Strong, Secure, Engaged" foreign policy.

This increased drive to militarism and war by the Trudeau Liberals and the other cartel parties must be stopped by the stepped-up organized resistance of the Canadian people to U.S. imperialism, NATO and NORAD. It is the Canadian people who must decide on Canada's military policy, foreign policy and the future of Canadian society. It is they who must step up their organizing for an anti-war government and work to make Canada a zone for peace. In this way Canadians can make a decisive contribution to peace in the Americas and the world, and contribute to securing a permanent peace in the world which is the condition for the flourishing of all peoples and nations.

All Out to Make Canada A Zone For Peace!
Organize for an Anti-War Government!

(With files from Government of Canada, Department of National Defence. Photos: TML)


This article was published in

Volume 50 Number 29 - August 8, 2020

Article Link:
Canada's Subservient Defence Policy: Billions Spent on Military Procurement - Philip Fernandez


    

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