Building a national consensus on defence

Canada is facing increasing and multifaceted national security challenges in today’s international security environment. For one, a serious threat continues to emanate to Western nations from terrorist movements, such as ISIL, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Hamas. These movements fuel domestic radicalization and when supported by hostile states such as Iran, they pose a serious threat to both regional security and Western nations. Simultaneously, the world is also witnessing a resurgence in traditional great power rivalries. This has been most dramatically evident in China’s determination to pursue dominance in East Asia and to expand its influence globally. Its flouting of international law in its island-building campaign, and the militarization of those same islands, is unprecedented. The regime also seems to instinctively fall back on threats and the use of force when faced with actions by other states that it doesn’t like. The Trudeau government has been naïve in not recognizing this. It has also had a weak response to the arbitrary arrest of Canadians without cause and to the grossly unfair Chinese decision to halt Canadian agricultural imports. The West is further confronted with Russia’s decision to strategically align itself with China and by its aggressive efforts to intimidate Ukraine. Both China and Russia are engaged in a major military build-up, with both countries placing significant emphasis on the expansion of their naval, air and missile capabilities. These developments impact the security of North America and the government must be cognizant of the fact that our offshore waters, including in the Arctic, will become much more accessible and vulnerable in the years ahead. All of these challenges need to be taken seriously. Given the lead time that is required to develop effective national capabilities, Canada requires a government with the will to lead and with a commitment to construct a longer-term political consensus on defence. Recently, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer outlined his plan to achieve that objective. He stated that: “we must establish, without a doubt, everywhere in the world, that our sovereignty over the North is non-negotiable. The Arctic does not only belong to us. It is us. And that includes the Northwest Passage." He argued that emphasis must be placed on acquiring the capabilities that will be needed to protect Canada’s offshore waters. He noted the importance of renewing Canada’s current submarine fleet—a fleet that is now already 30 years old, but a capability which the Royal Canadian Navy’s own strategy document, Leadmark 2050, has called its “ultimate war-fighting capability." He also referenced the need to depoliticize Canada’s military procurement process, so that the capabilities that are needed in the coming decades can be smoothly acquired. And he referenced the importance of standing with our allies against common threats. Unfortunately, over the past four years the current government has devoted almost no attention to doing this. It began its tenure in office by pulling Canadian fighter aircraft out of the fight against terrorists in Iraq and Syria. It put the process of acquiring badly needed new fighter aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force on the backburner. It has failed to devote adequate political attention to solving emerging gaps in Canada’s shipbuilding program. And it has shown no interest in renewing Canada’s aging submarine capability to properly monitor and defend our Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic waters. To defend the national interest, this lacklustre approach to managing Canada’s defence must be stopped. Historically, the Senate has made a useful contribution in identifying Canadian defence priorities and requirements. In 2017, the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence, of which I serve as vice-chair, recommended measures to strengthen Canada’s defence posture, particularly in relation to protecting our offshore and Arctic waters. It also referenced the importance of fixing our procurement system and working cooperatively with Canadian industry to build a capability acquisition strategy that is sustainable and benefits Canada’s economy. Many of these recommendations mirror the priorities that Andrew Scheer also recently identified. Regrettably, the current government ignored most of those Senate recommendations. Canada is facing increasing and multifaceted national security challenges in today’s international security environment. Quebec Conservative Senator Jean-Guy Dagenais is vice-chair of the Senate's National Security and Defence Committee. The Hill Times

Building a national consensus on defence

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Building a national consensus on defence

Canada is facing increasing and multifaceted national security challenges in today’s international security environment.

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