defence review 2017
 

Here is a link to the new defence reveiw released today. A move in the right direction. Some specifics, some white wash. Time will tell. About a 10% increase in funding yearly for the next 7 or 8 years.

http://dgpaapp.forces.gc.ca/en/canad...icy-report.pdf

Thanks for sharing the link
 

Hi Perry

Looks like it will be an interesting read, and important in understanding what is not covered in the evening news which must cover a topic in two minutes or less.

Cheers Phil

Looks the the influence of the US President may have hit a nerve.
Canada ranks low as far as their defence spending commitment under Nato which has been brought to light most recently.
I believe Greece actually spend more of their GDP on defence than we do...

The night before the Defence Policy Review was tabled, the Minister of Global Affairs Canada (pronounced 'gack'), made a significant speech. She announced that Canada will be stepping up to its partnerships and doing more in the absence of US leadership and isolationism. As was mentioned previously, time will tell.

Defence Review
 

Smoke and mirrors by a political party whose track record of supporting the military is questionable at best (not that the other party was any better). Lots of big ticket items on the list like ships and aircraft that due to the overly bureaucratic Canadian procurement system will take years if not decades to deliver. A true indicator of a sincere desire to support the military would be to boost defence spending up to the 2% minimum that NATO requests and not hover at 1.4% or make promises to plan to deliver major items over the next 10 years. Of course fixing the Phoenix pay system might help some defence employees actually get paid the money they are owed, but that is another news story.

"Absence of US leadership and isolation"...
I find that to be an interesting comment considering the fact that it was a key point made by the United States that they simply reminded NATO countries of the required financial commitment agreed to by the signatories of the Treaty.
The US has made it well known that they are growing tired of over supporting the slackers.

That phrase were her words (or maybe the commenting editorial writer's). Not mine.

"The answer is obvious: To rely solely on the U.S. security umbrella would make us a client state. And although we have an incredibly good relationship with our American friends and neighbours, such a dependence would not be in Canada’s interest. " https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affa...riorities.html

The retreat from the world stage cannot be blamed/credited to the current President. In the opinion of another editorial, Terry Glavin, whose work is typically bang on, that trend began in earnest with the last President.
http://news.nationalpost.com/full-co...n-obamas-watch

Yes, indeed we live in interesting times!

Yes Terry, I should have clarified the quote.

A quota of 25% women and saying spending on vets is 'military spending' going towards our NATO commitment are my favorite parts. Our CAF is now well and truly a public service union as far as the Liberals are concerned. Bureaucracy over efficiency. Whoopy.

Yes, the uptick in spending may not translate into more "teeth" for our military's bite!

Defence Review 2017
 

This cartoon was in today's Ottawa Citizen.

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