While Canada has several explosive and munition plants, what Canada needs to now do is significantly ramp up its provision of both ammunition and heavy shells for Ukraine. A commitment by the Canadian government to build a new munitions plant, specifically to supply both the Canadian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Armed Forces is needed.
It’s time for Canada to do more. Not only is there a need to rapidly increase Canada’s size and strength of its military, but it needs to ensure that the necessary armaments and munitions are built, here, in Canada.
Canada’s munitions manufacturing needs at least a four-fold increase in production in order to assist Ukraine, from 5,000 155 and 105 mm howitzer shells per month, to 20,000. Only when Ukraine has the necessary munitions so that it can adequately protect itself, will the other nations with NATO be safer themselves.
Plants in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba should be enlarged substantively to make all the necessary artillery shells used by the Canadian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Army. Producing munitions in Canada, where Putin cannot take them out, makes sense.
And while Canada is not part of Europe, it’s self-evident to every Canadian that were Canada the target of aggression, we in turn would hope that Europe would come to our aid. This is no time for complacency or sitting on the sidelines. Canada must step up to help Ukraine, and it must strengthen its military forces.
A doubling of Canada’s force strength is needed at a minimum. That means that Canada, with its reserves needs to develop a military of 200,000 personnel, with the majority being required in the ground forces of the CAF.
Canada should also look to cancel its relationships with American military equipment and move its orders to a Europe centric supply basis. New aircraft from either Sweden or France, and new tanks, IFV’s, artillery and attack helicopters.
Canada’s navy should quickly move to procure new AIP cruise launch, long range missile launch-capable submarines, and the River Class Destroyers delivery should be doubled in terms of the speed of delivery.
Canada can no longer trust or depend on the United States. It should be clearly stated that Canada will move to assume total control of its military strategy, airspace and waters in the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic.
A new strategic alliance should be struck with Europe and the U.K. as Canada has much more in common today, than it does with America or its interests.
But one element is key. America has no right to impose anything on Ukraine. If that is what it wishes Ukraine to do, then the U.S. should drop its pretence and it should leave NATO and leave Europe, as it’s obvious that in that case, America has no interest in actually finding a solution, only in extracting a pound of flesh, for which Ukraine has already paid dearly.
But time is of the essence. Procurement must proceed at a rapid pace, and Canadians must understand that paying additional taxes in order to secure their sovereignty is simply a necessity.
If taxes were increased an additional 5% for all tax brackets but the poor, that would enable Canada to expend over 1 billion dollars on new munitions plants and production for Ukraine.
It is simply time for Canada and Canadians to stand up for democracy and for Ukraine.
Failure is not an option.
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