EvanL
06-02-2004, 12:51 PM
Defence officials told no new money for at least two years
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Despite Liberal campaign promises to increase funding and troop levels for the Canadian Armed Forces, defence officials have been told privately they will have to make do without more additional money for at least two years if the Liberals are re-elected, the National Post has learned.
Staff officers preparing a defence policy review, which Paul Martin, the Prime Minister, ordered soon after the Liberals took office last December, were told this month there will be no new funding for the first two years of a new Liberal government -- possibly for three.
''They've been beavering away on it for the last few months,'' said one defence official, who asked to remain anonymous. ''Then they're told: 'Look, there's no new money coming for two years, maybe three.' The guys just threw up their hands and said: 'What's the point?' ''
Other officers familiar with the review process said the $13-billion defence budget could actually be ''clawed back'' by almost $150-million next year.
"It's difficult to understand," said Colonel Alain Pellerin, a retired army officer and director of the defence lobby group Conference of Defence Associations. "If they're giving with one hand and taking away with the other, that's not a very transparent process."
David Pratt, the Defence Minister, told the Ottawa Citizen this week that the Liberals are considering increasing Armed Forces funding and troop levels in a campaign platform on defence to be announced this week.
The Liberals came under pressure to address the issue after Stephen Harper, the Conservative leader, promised Monday that his party would inject $5.5-billion into the defence budget and increase troop levels by 25,000.
However Col. Pellerin said the Liberals so far have shown little indication that they are committed to rebuilding the Armed Forces. "If the first priority of a government is the security of its citizens ... then why are they not ready to commit themselves to a long-term financial revitalization of the Armed Forces?" he asked.
"In health care they're committed to a long-term plan, why not in defence?"
In pre-campaign promises, Mr. Martin committed to spend $7.7-billion on new maritime helicopters, search-and-rescue aircraft, lightweight armoured vehicles for the army and new joint support ships for the navy.
However, he has said there will be no more new money until a major policy review of defence and foreign is complete.
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Despite Liberal campaign promises to increase funding and troop levels for the Canadian Armed Forces, defence officials have been told privately they will have to make do without more additional money for at least two years if the Liberals are re-elected, the National Post has learned.
Staff officers preparing a defence policy review, which Paul Martin, the Prime Minister, ordered soon after the Liberals took office last December, were told this month there will be no new funding for the first two years of a new Liberal government -- possibly for three.
''They've been beavering away on it for the last few months,'' said one defence official, who asked to remain anonymous. ''Then they're told: 'Look, there's no new money coming for two years, maybe three.' The guys just threw up their hands and said: 'What's the point?' ''
Other officers familiar with the review process said the $13-billion defence budget could actually be ''clawed back'' by almost $150-million next year.
"It's difficult to understand," said Colonel Alain Pellerin, a retired army officer and director of the defence lobby group Conference of Defence Associations. "If they're giving with one hand and taking away with the other, that's not a very transparent process."
David Pratt, the Defence Minister, told the Ottawa Citizen this week that the Liberals are considering increasing Armed Forces funding and troop levels in a campaign platform on defence to be announced this week.
The Liberals came under pressure to address the issue after Stephen Harper, the Conservative leader, promised Monday that his party would inject $5.5-billion into the defence budget and increase troop levels by 25,000.
However Col. Pellerin said the Liberals so far have shown little indication that they are committed to rebuilding the Armed Forces. "If the first priority of a government is the security of its citizens ... then why are they not ready to commit themselves to a long-term financial revitalization of the Armed Forces?" he asked.
"In health care they're committed to a long-term plan, why not in defence?"
In pre-campaign promises, Mr. Martin committed to spend $7.7-billion on new maritime helicopters, search-and-rescue aircraft, lightweight armoured vehicles for the army and new joint support ships for the navy.
However, he has said there will be no more new money until a major policy review of defence and foreign is complete.