Canadian Council of Chief Executives

Canada's Role in the World

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Defence and Security

Canada and the world have entered a new era, in which fears of global nuclear holocaust have been replaced by ethnic cleansing, international terrorism and rogue states. In this environment, Canada must repair decades of neglect of its armed forces in order to affirm its sovereignty and its relevance to global stability and security. This will require a new focus for our military and significant new investment in people and equipment.

At a minimum, Canada's military capability must be sufficient to guarantee the country's own security against outside threats by patrolling our maritime approaches, providing surveillance of Canadian airspace and maintaining land forces capable of protecting critical infrastructure and responding to natural and man-made emergencies.
Canada must cooperate closely with the United States in addressing the threats that are common to North America as a continent. This includes increased interoperability of forces on land, at sea and in the air, collaboration in securing marine approaches and continued Canadian participation in joint aerospace defence, both through NORAD and the planned ballistic missile defence system. (The CCCE's proposals regarding continental security are set out in greater detail in our North American Security and Prosperity Initiative.)
In addition, Canada must build on its proud tradition of peacekeeping by rebuilding a credible capacity to contribute to global security. This should include an ability to respond meaningfully and rapidly to crises anywhere in the world.
Whatever the country's armed forces are asked to do, they must be equipped and trained to do well. Even assuming a significant increase in the total resources devoted to defence and security, review of defence policy, must specify the roles and missions Canada expects its armed forces to perform in protecting Canadian territory and as an instrument of its foreign policy.
The imperative of excellence requires choices. Just as the government recently decided to forego replacing Cold War main battle tanks in favour of air transportable lightly armoured gun systems, the equipment and training of land, naval and air forces must be focused on the threats Canada is most likely to face in the years ahead.
Whatever roles and missions Canada chooses, its military forces must be able to operate effectively in conjunction with those of the United States and other allies, within North America and globally.


Click for further information:	Home >> Canada's Role in the World >> Defence and Security Defence and Security Canada and the world have entered a new era, in which fears of global nuclear holocaust have been replaced by ethnic cleansing, international terrorism and rogue states. In this environment, Canada must repair decades of neglect of its armed forces in order to affirm its sovereignty and its relevance to global stability and security. This will require a new focus for our military and significant new investment in people and equipment. At a minimum, Canada's military capability must be sufficient to guarantee the country's own security against outside threats by patrolling our maritime approaches, providing surveillance of Canadian airspace and maintaining land forces capable of protecting critical infrastructure and responding to natural and man-made emergencies. Canada must cooperate closely with the United States in addressing the threats that are common to North America as a continent. This includes increased interoperability of forces on land, at sea and in the air, collaboration in securing marine approaches and continued Canadian participation in joint aerospace defence, both through NORAD and the planned ballistic missile defence system. (The CCCE's proposals regarding continental security are set out in greater detail in our North American Security and Prosperity Initiative.) In addition, Canada must build on its proud tradition of peacekeeping by rebuilding a credible capacity to contribute to global security. This should include an ability to respond meaningfully and rapidly to crises anywhere in the world. Whatever the country's armed forces are asked to do, they must be equipped and trained to do well. Even assuming a significant increase in the total resources devoted to defence and security, review of defence policy, must specify the roles and missions Canada expects its armed forces to perform in protecting Canadian territory and as an instrument of its foreign policy. The imperative of excellence requires choices. Just as the government recently decided to forego replacing Cold War main battle tanks in favour of air transportable lightly armoured gun systems, the equipment and training of land, naval and air forces must be focused on the threats Canada is most likely to face in the years ahead. Whatever roles and missions Canada chooses, its military forces must be able to operate effectively in conjunction with those of the United States and other allies, within North America and globally.
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