One month after Stephen Harper announced major plans for the Canadian military without actually having a document to show the media, the Tories have quietly put their Canada First Defence Strategy online.
The report calls for clearly defined missions and capabilities for the military.
The plan has six core missions:
- Daily domestic and continental operations, including in the Arctic and through Canada's commitment to NORAD.
- Supporting a major international event in Canada, like the 2010 Olympics.
- Responding to any potential terrorist strikes.
- Support for civilian authorities for natural disasters.
- Conducting a major international mission for a extended period.
- Deploying to world crisis spots for shorter periods.
The Tories have committed to provide stable funding over 20 years. It is expected the military will have a budget of $45 to $50 billion for big-ticket purchases.
One chart shows that personnel accounts for $250 billion of defence spending, 2008-09 to 2027-28 (Accrual Numbers), or 51 per cent of the funding. This would see 70,000 regulars and 30,000 reserves by 2028, and includes a 25,000-strong civilian workforce.
The report uses charts and pictures to show where increased spending will go, explaining: "... The government increased defence funding through budget 2006 by $5.3 billion over five years, including a baseline increase of $1.8 billion starting in 2010-11. In doing so, it established a firm foundation for the future and raised the baseline on which future efforts to rebuild the Canadian Forces will be anchored.
"Moving forward from this strong footing, the government, in budget 2008, augmented the automatic annual rise in defence funding from 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent starting in fiscal year 2011-12.
"Over the next 20 years, this increase is expected toexpand the Defence budget from approximately $18 billion in 2008-09, to over $30 billion by 2027-28."
