Why Doesn't Canada Build Up it's Military? ?

Randy B

Well, before you spout off your mouth perhaps you want to educate yourself first.

In the last few years we have seen:
- new combat uniforms (both woodland AND desert pattern),
- new vehicles including the G Wagon, the Aardvark JSFU, the RG-31 APV, Galion Grader, Leopard 2 tanks, Nyala and Mamba vehicle variants, and the Solar Excavator;
- new weapons including M777 artillery piece
- new general equipment including personal radio systems, ballistic eyewear, body armour (which many American troops purchase on their own), remote controlled mine detection equipment, night vision goggles and the list goes on.

When I deployed to Afghanistan, within my first week I had occassion to sit next to an American service member in the mess hall and one of the first things he said to me was that he was glad we were there because we had no much "Gucci kit". It wasn't long before I realized that many of them were in ill fitting uniforms, their Hummers are rattle traps held together with bubble gum and bailing wire and IF they are armored its because they did it themselves. It wasn't until my tour was half over that the Americans even started to get any RG mine resistant vehicles in theater and we had already had them for a year.

In fact, wanna know how the Brits go outside the wire? 4-5 guys in an unarmored Land Rover with the back off and a machine gun on a pintel mount. No armor and nothing more to drive on then what you would buy off the lot.

Can the Govt spend more? Sure, they always can but the simple fact of the matter is they have spent MILLIONS on the military over the last few years and we have never been as well equipped as we are now. If we need it, we get it. Could we use new fighter jets? Sure but it's not as easy as just calling up Bombardier and placing an order. There are years and years of R&D that go into it which is one reason we are working with the American on the JSF project and we have dibbs on purchasing a number to replace the 18s.

We already make our own weapons in many cases. Our C7 assault rifles are made in Canada as are a good number of our basic armored vehicles, at a plant in London Ontario actually.

As I said, there is always room for improvement but seriously, think before you speak.

smartypants

So you think that Canada's military is too small?
Canada is a country with a large land area, but not a huge population.

Straight is Great!

The world knows Canada is protected by the US. The Canadians have always fought by our side. The Canadian Military are good brave men and women. Thank you Canada.

dukemack

Well - no risk of invasion (unless you count US tourists), no big need for border control - Why build up something you dont need ? As to developing fighter jets etc - why carry the expense ??

desertviking_00

Most of the operations that Canadian forces have engaged in since the Second World War have been UN peacekeeping operations, where lightly-armed, small units are the norm. The only time that they get into a manpower pinch is with UN peace enforcement missions under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter. Canada has participated in three of those (Korea, Iraq-Kuwait in 1991 and East Timor). Another type of operation which saps the strength and durability of its forces is when they are part of a NATO operation like that in Afghanistan.
As a retired U.S. Navy officer who went on manuevers with your 2PP (one of the most highly decorated units in the world) I have great respect for your current forces and admire your record of peace keeping. I even have a color photo of the Peace Keepers Monument on my patio. But, I think over the years, that your officer corps and your general staff have locked themselves mentally into the peace keeping scenario. This shows in the low number of total personnel in the force and the small inventory of arms and equipment. Perhaps it's time to form a Royal Commission made up of retired officers and "firebrands"like Lew McKenzie to give both the PM and the involved ministers a true list of what Canada needs. This would include some tweaking of the curriculum at the Pearson Academy to orient the next group of officers and NCOs that task one (given the international terrorist threat) is war, not peace keeping.

BAD INTENTIONS

What for? we don't need to. We're small, but fantastictly trained and we aren't a threat to anyone, or are we on anyones bad side. We are protected by the U.S that would mess up whoever tried f*cking with us.

Morlock

If it's any conciliation I can see your navy expanding seriously over the next few decades.
Less ice in the arctic and the war of words with Russia over who owns what. Pretty much inevitable a minor arms race will happen.

kuzindwight

Canada is getting better but they are slow to upgrade.

We have Canadians come to NTC and observe training periodically. Their Soldiers are professionals. I can't complain about the guys I've worked with and for the most part they are just like us.

The Canadian government has upgraded a lot of their lower cost items but they don't even attempt to improve on bigger ticket items.

The helicopter fleet (my field) is minuscule and uses equipment we consider obsolete in the 1980's. The Canadian troops are paying for that now because they have to Convoy everywhere in Afghanistan, most Americans are moved by helicopters. They have no attack helicopter and no plans to obtain one.

They really have minimal modern main battle tank presence. They have around 120 surplus German and Dutch Leopards 1's which is an upgrade on 1960's technology. That's less armor than in a single US armored BDE. If they are upgrading the the Leopard 2, good for them. It is a very capable tank and was impressed when I checked them out in Germany. Unfortunate they aren't exactly cutting edge, they have been around since 1979, but I assume they are once again upgraded German or Dutch surplus tanks.

They has a token air force with a good fighter, the CF-188 (F/A-18), that is in dire need of an upgrade.

The individual Soldiers are being fielded good equipment. The body armor (I never knew a single US Soldier who bought their own despite all the media reports), web gear, and helmets are as good and modern as what we issue to troops. Their uniforms are good and the digital patter both the Marines and Army use was first used in Canada, or so I read.

They are relying on the US for their protection but so has most of Europe since the end of WWII. I do agree that they need to start pulling their weight. The do not have a population as large as the US but our ratio serving and percentage of budget committed to defense is much greater than Canada.

2009=Age Of Orton

It's because the US has got their back.

Zack M

its the matter of money...canada isn't the willing to spend millions and billions of dollars to build up their military like the us or russian military. canada is a peaceful country and has almost to none enemies, so their isn't a very good reason to.

and canada does build its own jets, tanks, and guns for other countries and for its own

knh959

The Canadian government has made great strides in improving the Canadian military over the past several years. Previous Liberal regimes ran the forces down to virtually nothing. Chretien in particular held the armed forces in low esteem and refused to provide any worthwhile amounts of money on them. His one 'major' purchase was providing the navy with four mothballed second hand british subs. Anyone who follows the news and Canadian affairs know how that one tuned out.

Harper however, has taken many steps in improving the military. Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan for example are with the notable exception of no heavy helicopter capabilities as well equipped as any soldiers in the area and are far better equipped than most (including the Americans)

The airforce has benefited from the purchase of four new heavy airlift transport planes and a contract has been signed to replace the current fleet of C-130 medium cargo planes with the newest version of the
C-130. New shipboard helicopters are on the way to replace the worn out old Seakings. The navy has just embarked on a major life extension program for the Patrol Frigate. New supply ships are on the drawing board. There is lots of work to be done yet, but at least things have started to move in the right direction.

As far as building our own fighters and tanks go, you must realize that you don't just throw a wrench at a mechanic and say build this. The Research and Development phase of building these types of equipment can cost literally billions of dollars before you even attach a wing to a fuselage or install a gun barrel on a tank with no guarantees that the end product will be any better than what is already available at a lower cost. What Canada has traditionally done in the past is negotiate maintenance and repair agreements with the manufacturer to ensure that these activities are contracted to Canadian companies. The CF-18 is a good example. Built in the United States but repaired and maintained in Canada.

Lu W

It doesn't need to. It could easily do so, but it has no reason to waste money on such. No country is threatening to Canada, and Canada is peaceful to all other foreign nations.

Mr Puma

You need to ask this in the Politics section. What you are talking about is in the hands of the politicians.

cynical bugger

What for? Aren't you guys the Liberal extension of America or what we might have been if we had not been consumed by minority demands, more or less? Hey, did you know that you guys may be the next Saudi Arabia by virtue of your less than sweet crude nesseled beneath the pine cones?

Mr.Pint

Umm why spend money on something that they don't need? Your question makes no sense.

akihabro13

U.S smashes all opposition so don't worry. Continue importing your weed and bacon. lol I'm sorry I don't know much aboot Canada.

Mike

Canada has a military? What for than relying on the US?

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because you US will not let any of its neighbor be a military equivalent to them.

Its a threat to us.

Vincent

Im canadian I would like to see the U.S and Canada merge as one country...perhaps add mexicio in there as well...We need to bulk up our miliatry and be prepared for the future (if there is a future (2012). Canada has an abundance of natural resources which other countries may need or want in the future...we need some type of defense...Our defense cant be relying on the U.S however if the U.S and canada combine it would help both countries...We are so integrated now anyway it wouldnt take much to merge the two countries. If the countries did merge I would like to see tougher gun control laws and universal health care for all. Canada should not really have a debt or a deficit however we do...How can a country with some much in it and with such a small population be in debt?...We need smarter people leading this country...cut out all the red tape money wasting garbage and do what needs to be done for the people...create jobs...this country should have more jobs than people in my mind because we have so much to offer.

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