EvanL
03-06-2004, 10:25 PM
MICHAEL TUTTON
Canadian Press
Friday, March 05, 2004
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DARTMOUTH, N.S. (CP) - Conservative leadership candidate Tony Clement says he'll rapidly increase funding for Canada's military if he becomes prime minister, matching a promise made earlier this week by rival Belinda Stronach.
Using Halifax Harbour as a backdrop, Clement told reporters Friday he would also merge the Canadian Coast Guard with the navy. The coast guard is now part of the federal Fisheries Department. The former Ontario cabinet minister said he'd boost military spending by $1 billion immediately, bringing defence spending to $12.8 billion annually.
After the first year, he said, he'd continue to increase the defence budget at a rate of three per cent above the country's rate of economic growth.
It's a commitment Clement made earlier in the campaign, but it took on increased significance Friday, as the Halifax area is home to about 10,000 military personnel.
Clement also said he would spend $2 billion immediately on military equipment.
Clement and Stronach have both spent considerable time and money courting party members in Atlantic Canada as of late, mainly because the region remains a stronghold for former Progressive Conservatives, many of whom have turned their backs on the race's front-runner, former Alliance leader Stephen Harper.
When Stronach, a former auto parts magnate, visited Halifax on Tuesday, she promised to add $1 billion each year over the next 10 years to defence spending.
Later Friday, Geoff Regan, the federal minister of fisheries, said Clement's proposal to merge the navy and coast guard would be too costly.
"To make the kind of changes that Mr. Clement is talking about would require a generation and billions of dollars," said the Nova Scotia MP, who was in Halifax to make an announcement with Defence Minister David Pratt.
Pratt also did nothing to encourage the idea of a merged navy and coast guard, saying there was no support within the navy for the proposal.
Clement said his merger plan would be an ideal way to improve coastal monitoring.
"By doing this we could enhance our continental defence strategy while maintaining our search-and-rescue capability for our fishing and shipping industries."
Clement said he'd find the money for increased military spending by restricting government spending in all areas. He declined to speculate on what programs, if any, he would cut.
© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press
Im starting to like this bloke. He defiunately has a face for radio though.
Canadian Press
Friday, March 05, 2004
ADVERTISEMENT
DARTMOUTH, N.S. (CP) - Conservative leadership candidate Tony Clement says he'll rapidly increase funding for Canada's military if he becomes prime minister, matching a promise made earlier this week by rival Belinda Stronach.
Using Halifax Harbour as a backdrop, Clement told reporters Friday he would also merge the Canadian Coast Guard with the navy. The coast guard is now part of the federal Fisheries Department. The former Ontario cabinet minister said he'd boost military spending by $1 billion immediately, bringing defence spending to $12.8 billion annually.
After the first year, he said, he'd continue to increase the defence budget at a rate of three per cent above the country's rate of economic growth.
It's a commitment Clement made earlier in the campaign, but it took on increased significance Friday, as the Halifax area is home to about 10,000 military personnel.
Clement also said he would spend $2 billion immediately on military equipment.
Clement and Stronach have both spent considerable time and money courting party members in Atlantic Canada as of late, mainly because the region remains a stronghold for former Progressive Conservatives, many of whom have turned their backs on the race's front-runner, former Alliance leader Stephen Harper.
When Stronach, a former auto parts magnate, visited Halifax on Tuesday, she promised to add $1 billion each year over the next 10 years to defence spending.
Later Friday, Geoff Regan, the federal minister of fisheries, said Clement's proposal to merge the navy and coast guard would be too costly.
"To make the kind of changes that Mr. Clement is talking about would require a generation and billions of dollars," said the Nova Scotia MP, who was in Halifax to make an announcement with Defence Minister David Pratt.
Pratt also did nothing to encourage the idea of a merged navy and coast guard, saying there was no support within the navy for the proposal.
Clement said his merger plan would be an ideal way to improve coastal monitoring.
"By doing this we could enhance our continental defence strategy while maintaining our search-and-rescue capability for our fishing and shipping industries."
Clement said he'd find the money for increased military spending by restricting government spending in all areas. He declined to speculate on what programs, if any, he would cut.
© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press
Im starting to like this bloke. He defiunately has a face for radio though.