Canadian Council of Chief Executives :: A North American Defence Alliance

North American Security and Prosperity

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A North American Defence Alliance

A North American Defence Alliance

Our militaries play a critical role in protecting our continent, but the United States is carrying a disproportionate part of the responsibility for doing so. Canada must come to terms, after too long a period of neglect, with its military and security obligations nationally, continentally and globally.

Four core defence priorities are clear: strategically mobile light infantry that is fully interoperable with allied forces within North America and abroad; protection of Canada’s maritime approaches; surveillance and defence of North American airspace; and critical infrastructure protection and emergency response within Canada. A credible capability in meeting these priorities alone will require significant additional resources for Canada’s ground, naval and air forces.
In protecting its territory and contributing to the security of North America, Canada must take the lead in expanding and developing joint military institutions with the United States. This should include strengthening existing institutions such as the Permanent Joint Board on Defence, the binational planning group within the United States Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD). Joint efforts on protection of airspace and maritime approaches should include consideration of the inclusion of ground and naval forces within an expanded NORAD command structure.
The Canada-United States security alliance should not be limited to military forces. Canada's Coast Guard, customs and immigration officials and police forces also must work closely with their United States counterparts in protecting the continent and responding to emergencies.
A strong Canada-United States economic and security partnership will contribute to the enhancement of global security. But Canada's contribution cannot rest on bilateralism alone, nor can we pin our hopes on a vastly more effective Canadian military capability. Canada must apply its great experience and credibility as an advocate of multilateralism to confronting the terrorist challenge and to promoting world order. This we must do through a properly resourced foreign policy framework that includes vigorous promotion of global trade, international development, good governance and peacekeeping.


Click for further information:	Home >> North American Security and Prosperity >> A North American Defence Alliance A North American Defence Alliance Our militaries play a critical role in protecting our continent, but the United States is carrying a disproportionate part of the responsibility for doing so. Canada must come to terms, after too long a period of neglect, with its military and security obligations nationally, continentally and globally. Four core defence priorities are clear: strategically mobile light infantry that is fully interoperable with allied forces within North America and abroad; protection of Canada’s maritime approaches; surveillance and defence of North American airspace; and critical infrastructure protection and emergency response within Canada. A credible capability in meeting these priorities alone will require significant additional resources for Canada’s ground, naval and air forces. In protecting its territory and contributing to the security of North America, Canada must take the lead in expanding and developing joint military institutions with the United States. This should include strengthening existing institutions such as the Permanent Joint Board on Defence, the binational planning group within the United States Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD). Joint efforts on protection of airspace and maritime approaches should include consideration of the inclusion of ground and naval forces within an expanded NORAD command structure. The Canada-United States security alliance should not be limited to military forces. Canada's Coast Guard, customs and immigration officials and police forces also must work closely with their United States counterparts in protecting the continent and responding to emergencies. A strong Canada-United States economic and security partnership will contribute to the enhancement of global security. But Canada's contribution cannot rest on bilateralism alone, nor can we pin our hopes on a vastly more effective Canadian military capability. Canada must apply its great experience and credibility as an advocate of multilateralism to confronting the terrorist challenge and to promoting world order. This we must do through a properly resourced foreign policy framework that includes vigorous promotion of global trade, international development, good governance and peacekeeping.
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