Canada needs to get on with NORAD modernization
“NORAD modernization is the unfinished chapter of Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE),” asserted Defence Minister Anita Anand at a recent conference hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The minister has pledged to produce a “robust package” of options to modernize NORAD to meet today’s national security challenges, including the growing concern over Russian aggression and […]
Trudeau needs to clearly explain why Canada should be making significant investments in both social programs and contributions to the global order
During the April 2022 federal budget announcement, new defence spending was included, largely in response to the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine and the need to modernize the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Yet when defence spending increases, there is less money available for other programs that Canadians value, which is the classic “guns […]
Climate change is increasing the strain on Canadian Armed Forces for emergency response
VANCOUVER ISLAND—The following is the testimony of Wilfrid Greaves, an assistant professor in the department of political science at the University of Victoria, who spoke to the House National Defence committee on May 9. Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. I am honoured to be here, and I thank you for hosting this […]
No trade-off between ‘guns and butter,’ allows hope for Liberals to balance spending on defence and domestic promises to NDP, say experts
A strategy of deficit spending may be on the horizon as the Liberal government seeks to balance an increased demand for defence spending while still pursuing domestic priorities such as national pharmacare or dental care, according to experts. “We have seen how rapidly in Ukraine, equipment, munitions, and other things can get used up. We […]
Better late than never, time to commit to missile defence
OTTAWA—Trivia Question: What is the connection between Ogdensburg, New York and continental missile defence? Answer: At Ogdensburg in August 1940, Canadian prime minister Mackenzie King and U.S. president Franklin Roosevelt met to sign the Ogdensburg Agreement which laid the foundation for the future continental defence of Canada and the United States. The agreement established a […]
Canada’s ability to maintain adequate defence in the Arctic requires more than counting equipment
Increasing military activity and investment in the Arctic have particular piquancy for Canada, while Russian aggression in Ukraine has sharpened concerns about the potential for military presence in the Arctic to turn into conflict. However, agglomerating the array of considerations into a catch-all category of ‘threats in the Arctic’ is overly simplistic. It is therefore […]
Feds should create a new, single entity Defence Procurement Canada
Amongst our close allies, Canada stands alone with its system of “dispersed accountability.” In the United States, the secretary of defence is accountable for military procurement. In the United Kingdom, this responsibility falls to the U.K. secretary of state for defence. In Australia, defence procurement is under the authority of its defence materiel organization, accountable […]
Defence Policy Briefing
A dangerous game of nuclear poker in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was an extraordinary gamble. Like a player in a high-stakes poker game, he thought his cards were unbeatable, but as the world is seeing, Ukraine has played a surprisingly strong hand. With the assistance of the United States and like-minded nations, Ukraine is putting up an unexpectedly tenacious […]
Digital payments innovation offers blueprint for scaling up Canadian cyber defence
Cyber is the most important security and defence landscape of our time, whether you are a national or local government, a multinational corporation or small business, a public figure or private citizen. As digital technologies evolve to make our work and lives more seamless and convenient, the risk of cybercrime expands in tandem. This is […]
