The Canadian Armed Forces today, are approximately half the size of the armed forces when I was a member in 1971. At that time, Canada had half the population we now have (approximetely) as well.
Today, there is no excuse for Canada’s Armed Forces to be so small. In 1970 the CAF’s were approximately 141,000 members, today 68,000.
The world has almost never been so unstable, our neighbours more unstable and the potential for war, greater.
Europe is already at war.
The far east may soon be at war, and;
The middle-east may soon be at war, as well as Indo-China may well soon be at war.
Russia is seeking to increase its territorial and mineral wealth in the arctic, in addition to the Ukraine, while America is now an actual ‘enemy’ of Canada, having stated that it claims to annex Canada to the United States.
Canadian sovereignty is in peril. It is essential that the Federal Government whose first role of importance is to protect Canadian sovereignty, build Canada’s military strength and capacity as quickly as possible.
There is no excuse for the size of today’s CAF. It should be at least twice its current size with twice the resources at its disposal. Canadians who fight against this expenditure are naive and self-defeating.
Canada can ill-afford to conclude that the current strength of Canada’s military is sufficient, unless they are seeking conflict with other hegemonic nations like Russia, China and the U.S.
At a minimum, Canada should create at least one, and preferably two army divisions complete and self-sustaining.
That would mean adding between 20,000 and 40,000 personnel to the army, alone.
The navy also requires a doubling of its size.
With at least 27 new capital warships to be built, the submarine force and the marine surface forces need doubling.
If conscription is necessary, then so be it. The generation of consription age would do well to serve a year in the CAf’s. It may well provide men and women of that age with skills, and a purpose that seems to allude them today, including discipline and a willingness to sacrifice for the country they call home.
Canada cannot afford to ignore the current situation any longer. America is no ally. America is no friend, and America may well leave NATO, exposing Canada to attack by any foreign adversary, including the United States.
And while Canada’s military would be a fraction of the size of the U.S., a ground force of 65,000 soldiers in the army would at least be capable of making such an attack costly to the invader, and elicit a joint response from NATO.
The world is no longer a secure or safe place. It is filled with nations seeking to expand their territory, their economic influence and their rule over other populations.
Canada needs to look to itself for security and to consider developing nuclear weapons as a response to any invasion.
And don’t tell me Canadians can’t afford it. In 1953 Canadians spent 8% of GDP on defence during the Korean War.
Sovereignty isn’t a question of what we can ‘afford’, it’s a question of what we can’t afford to ignore and protect.
Canadians, once again, have to learn the value of sacrifice and ‘man’ up.
To not do so, is naive and irresponsible.
Time is short and Canada must act.
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