Feds pledge to add more than $8-billion for defence, announce review of defence policy in new budget

With an eye to Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine, the federal government is proposing adding more than $8-billion to the military budget and to conduct a review of its defence policy in its budget tabled on April 7. With foreign policy taking a backseat for the government as it has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020, worldwide outrage over Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine has led Ottawa to take a new look at its approach to defence. The new defence funding will include $6.1-billion over five years, with $1.3-billion in the fiscal year of 2021-2022 to address defence priorities. There will be added commitments to Ukraine’s military, as well as funds to address culture change in the Armed Forces and to “reinforce” cyber security. The additional funds are on top of “planned increases” that were set in Canada’s defence plan, Strong, Secure, Engaged. Canada’s annual budget for the Department of National Defence is an estimated $17-billion. With the added funding, it will bring Canada’s defence budget to around 1.5 per cent of its GDP, according to a senior government official, which is still short of the NATO aim of two per cent. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland (University-Rosedale, Ont) told reporters in French on April 7 before the budget was tabled that the global situation has changed which meant the government had to spend more on defence. “The most serious threat today is Putin’s threat,” she said. “His regime knows no limits and it’s a real threat for all democracies.” The House of Commons passed a non-binding motion on April 6 calling for the government to meet the NATO target. All parties, except for the NDP and Greens, supported the motion. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said last month at a defence conference in Ottawa that he wants to see all members of the military alliance “do even more.” In a joint statement after the House of Commons vote, Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay (South Surrey-White Rock, B.C), her party's defence critic, and Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg-Haute-Saint-Charles, Que.), his party's public services and procurement critic, said that it is “imperative” for Canada to contribute its “fair share” to NATO. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, B.C.), meanwhile, has called the two per cent target “arbitrary.” Canadian defence procurement has been heavily criticized for delays and cost overruns. The Liberal government recently selected Lockheed Martin’s F-35 to be the aircraft for its fighter jet fleet. The purchase of the plane was cancelled by the Liberal government which came to power in 2015 after campaigning to cancel the previous government’s procurement of F-35s and pledging not to buy the plane. The Liberal government also announced a review of its defence plan. The budget document notes that “recent events require the government to reassess Canada’s role, priorities, and needs in the face of a changing world.” The review will look at the “size and capabilities” of the Armed Forces, as well as its “roles and responsibilities” and ensure that it has the resources to protect Canadians and contribute to operations globally. The budget notes that the review will look at what the Canadian military needs to “fulfill their missions” in a world that has “fundamentally changed in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” “We will look at Canada’s needs today in a changing situation in the world,” Freeland said. “The review will focus on effectiveness and efficiency of spending, and will be designed to develop a plan that can really be implemented.” With calls to seize and repurpose the funds that Canada has frozen by bringing in sanctions against Russian officials, oligarchs, and entities, the government has signalled its “intent to clarify” the ability of Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Que.) to “cause the forfeiture and disposal of assets” from those under sanctions. It is expected this would be done through legislation. Independent Senator Ratna Omidvar (Ontario) has forwarded Bill S-217 in the Senate, which is at third reading. The bill is seeking to seize and repurpose assets to support refugees who have been forcefully displaced. To support the Ukrainian war effort, the government has pledged $500-million in the current fiscal year in military aid for Ukraine. The government will also offer $1-billion in new loans to the Ukrainian government through the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “Ukrainians are fighting for democracy and for us as well. So we can help Ukraine because winning this war against Putin is vital and beneficial for us as well,” Freeland said. Earlier this year, the government pledged $338-million over three years to renew and expand its military training mission of Ukraine’s military, Operation Unifier. The mission, which has trained more than 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers, has been ongoing since 2015. It is currently relocated to Poland due to the conflict in Ukraine. To address culture change in the military—an initiative that Defence Minister Anita Anand (Oakville, Ont.) has said is her top priority—the government has proposed $100.5-million over six years that started in the 2021-22 fiscal year. An additional $144.3-million over five years is being proposed to increase the military’s health and physical fitness services to be “more responsive” for women and gender-diverse members. In the face of increased cyber attacks, the budget is committing $875.2-million beginning this fiscal year with $88-million. The added funding will go towards improving the Communications Security Establishment's (CSE) ability to initiate “cyber operations” and prevent and defend against cyber attacks on critical infrastructure; to make “critical government systems” more resilient to cyber attacks; and to expand cyber protection for “small departments, agencies, and Crown corporations.” Global Affairs was the victim of a cyber attack earlier this year and the National Research Council was recently the target of what the government is describing as a “cyber incident.” To bolster its maligned international assistance, the Liberal government is proposing $732-million in the current fiscal year to the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, which includes COVAX vaccines. Ottawa has come under fire for not supporting an initiative at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to waive intellectual property for COVID-19 related products. The budget also commits an additional $296-million over four years for global health security measures, including addressing infectious disease prevention and response. nmoss@hilltimes The Hill Times

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Feds pledge to add more than $8-billion for defence, announce review of defence policy in new budget

The increase to the defence budget would boost Canada's spending to 1.5 per cent of its GDP, according to a senior government official.

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