Government intervention needed to maintain naval capability

It's inexplicable why the government continues to dramatically under-fund capital programs, says Tory Sen. Kinsella. The maintenance of a modern, robust navy is a critical component of Canada's military forces. Without immediate government intervention that capability could be irrevocably lost. A commitment now could not be more timely as recent events along the U.S. Gulf Coast have demonstrated. The recent relief efforts in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster demonstrate the incredible flexibility of naval forces and their importance as a tool of foreign policy in crisis management. Canada's response to Hurricane Katrina was almost exclusively maritime, and particularly naval. In short order, Maritime Forces Atlantic dispatched a relief force to the U.S. Gulf Coast comprised of HMCS Athabaskan, HMCS Ville De Quebec, HMCS Toronto and the Canadian Coast Guard ship Sir William Alexander, within days of a government decision.The vessels and their crews off loaded relief supplies and sent parties ashore to help with the rebuilding effort. Naval divers also undertook essential support operations. Once again, a naval task group was Canada's first military response to a crisis situation abroad. To maintain this key capability will require serious government attention and the allocation of significant financial and human resources over the next decade. Canada's navy has suffered heavily from being over tasked and under funded throughout the Chretien and Martin years. The navy's operations and maintenance deficit is estimated in the $100-million range.The force is in need of ship replacements and vessel refits costing in the billions of dollars.The sorry scenario of deferred maintenance does not include the long, politically delayed, Sea King fleet replacement by the Sikorsky H-92 maritime helicopter estimated to take place sometime after 2009-2010. The navy's fleet of four over 30-year- old Tribal class destroyers, key players in the air defence and task group command and control, are in need of replacement and might have to be phased out before the new Single-class Surface Combat Ships are put in the water sometime after 2017. One of the destroyers has already been mothballed for sometime leaving the fleet with only three destroyers between the two fleets Atlantic and Pacific.The loss of this capability will hamper our naval operations by depriving the task group of command, control and air defence. The 12 Mulroney-era Halifax class Canadian Patrol Frigates have reached their mid-life and they are now in need of a major refit. Like the Tribal class destroyers, they are also due to be replaced by the new Single-class Surface Combat Ship expected after 2017. In the meantime, the Halifax class frigates will reportedly require upgrades as part of their mid-life refit that involve their command and control, communications, Sea Sparrow air defense system, and the new land attack version of the Harpoon missile for precision strike a shore. The badly-maligned Victoria class submarine program continues to grind forward. By the time all four submarines are 'Canadianized' over the next few years, they will be in need of a major refit. Only one, the HMCS Windsor, will be available for duty and training over the next year-and-a-half. The navy's 35-year-old HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver underway replenishment ships are in need of almost immediate replacement. Keeping them operational requires an almost Herculean effort that will not be resolved until the government-proposed Joint Support Ship (JSS) comes into service sometime after 2012. The three JSS hybrid warships are needed to provide the navy with replenishment at sea and a sea-lift capacity for the army. Lastly, Canada's reserve crewed force of 12 Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, which are used for training and sovereignty patrol and enforcement purposes, are not expected to be replaced before the 2020-2030 timeline. Given that it has taken successive governments, largely through political meddling, some almost 30 years beginning in 1978-79 to replace Canada's Sea King fleet it is inexplicable why the government continues to dramatically under-fund capital programs. Canada's naval fortunes are dismal without concerted government attention and support for the spending of several billions of dollars in naval procurement over the next 15 years. Without close attention and the allocation of considerable resources, Canada will be rendered incapable of protecting its interests at home and abroad. Conservative Sen. Noel Kinsella (Fredericton-York-Sunbury, N.B.) is vice chair of the Senate Defence Committee and leader of the opposition in the Senate. It's inexplicable why the government continues to dramatically under-fund capital programs, says Tory Sen. Kinsella. The maintenance of a modern, robust navy is a critical component of Canada's military forces. Without immediate government intervention that capability could be irrevocably lost. A commitment now could not be more timely as recent events along the U.S. Gulf Coast have demonstrated. The recent relief efforts in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster demonstrate the incredible flexibility of naval forces and their importance as a tool of foreign policy in crisis management. Canada's response to Hurricane Katrina was almost exclusively maritime, and particularly naval. In short order, Maritime Forces Atlantic dispatched a relief force to the U.S. Gulf Coast comprised of HMCS Athabaskan, HMCS Ville De Quebec, HMCS Toronto and the Canadian Coast Guard ship Sir William Alexander, within days of a government decision.The vessels and their crews off loaded relief supplies and sent parties ashore to help with the rebuilding effort. Naval divers also undertook essential support operations. Once again, a naval task group was Canada's first military response to a crisis situation abroad. To maintain this key capability will require serious government attention and the allocation of significant financial and human resources over the next decade. Canada's navy has suffered heavily from being over tasked and under funded throughout the Chretien and Martin years. The navy's operations and maintenance deficit is estimated in the $100-million range.The force is in need of ship replacements and vessel refits costing in the billions of dollars.The sorry scenario of deferred maintenance does not include the long, politically delayed, Sea King fleet replacement by the Sikorsky H-92 maritime helicopter estimated to take place sometime after 2009-2010. The navy's fleet of four over 30-year- old Tribal class destroyers, key players in the air defence and task group command and control, are in need of replacement and might have to be phased out before the new Single-class Surface Combat Ships are put in the water sometime after 2017. One of the destroyers has already been mothballed for sometime leaving the fleet with only three destroyers between the two fleets Atlantic and Pacific.The loss of this capability will hamper our naval operations by depriving the task group of command, control and air defence. The 12 Mulroney-era Halifax class Canadian Patrol Frigates have reached their mid-life and they are now in need of a major refit. Like the Tribal class destroyers, they are also due to be replaced by the new Single-class Surface Combat Ship expected after 2017. In the meantime, the Halifax class frigates will reportedly require upgrades as part of their mid-life refit that involve their command and control, communications, Sea Sparrow air defense system, and the new land attack version of the Harpoon missile for precision strike a shore. The badly-maligned Victoria class submarine program continues to grind forward. By the time all four submarines are 'Canadianized' over the next few years, they will be in need of a major refit. Only one, the HMCS Windsor, will be available for duty and training over the next year-and-a-half. The navy's 35-year-old HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver underway replenishment ships are in need of almost immediate replacement. Keeping them operational requires an almost Herculean effort that will not be resolved until the government-proposed Joint Support Ship (JSS) comes into service sometime after 2012. The three JSS hybrid warships are needed to provide the navy with replenishment at sea and a sea-lift capacity for the army. Lastly, Canada's reserve crewed force of 12 Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, which are used for training and sovereignty patrol and enforcement purposes, are not expected to be replaced before the 2020-2030 timeline. Given that it has taken successive governments, largely through political meddling, some almost 30 years beginning in 1978-79 to replace Canada's Sea King fleet it is inexplicable why the government continues to dramatically under-fund capital programs. Canada's naval fortunes are dismal without concerted government attention and support for the spending of several billions of dollars in naval procurement over the next 15 years. Without close attention and the allocation of considerable resources, Canada will be rendered incapable of protecting its interests at home and abroad. Conservative Sen. Noel Kinsella (Fredericton-York-Sunbury, N.B.) is vice chair of the Senate Defence Committee and leader of the opposition in the Senate. News@hilltimes.com The Hill Times

Government intervention needed to maintain naval capability

Canada’s aging crisis and a call for reform in eldercare

Boissonnault debacle feeds into pattern of ethical lapses in government, deepens Liberal woes, say observers

Feds request $24.8-billion boost as Liberals double down on budget 2024 pledges in latest estimates

Japan not taking part in procurement bid for Canadian Navy’s new subs

Billions from public-service pension plan surplus gives Liberals many options

New government spending request will be snared in parliamentary gridlock while privilege debate persists

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Military revisiting beartrap necessity as feds explore Arctic ship chopper capabilities

Navy won’t send ships in annual West Africa deployment amid readiness woes

Latest East China Sea encounter lacking advertised drama

South Korea visit a chance to dive into Canada’s submarine quagmire

Finding the silver lining in a cloudy Sudan evacuation operation

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Advertise

subscribe

get help

Get free news updates

Submit a guest opinion article

Government intervention needed to maintain naval capability

Become a Political Insider

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8