COURTENAY – Conservative leader Stephen Harper today announced major defence increases for British Columbia and Western Canada under his ‘Canada First’ defence strategy. He also continued to press the Liberal government for answers about the American submarine USS Charlotte’s passage through Canadian territorial waters.
“By all evidence, the Liberal government was not aware of this voyage,” said Mr. Harper. “The Canadian Government did not grant permission for it to occur. But they seem to have done nothing to protest this violation of sovereignty to the United States, and they have done nothing to improve Canada’s ability to respond to these kinds of violations in the future. If the Government of Canada can not even be forthcoming about what it knew and when, then it is in no position to protect our Arctic sovereignty.”
Regarding Canada’s defence presence on the West Coast, Mr. Harper said “Canada’s military capacity in this region has been allowed to atrophy. The capacity of the Pacific naval fleet, based at CFB Esquimalt, and our Pacific air force presence at CFB Comox, has been allowed to deteriorate. British Columbia, which is in an earthquake zone, is now the only region of the country without a regular land forces presence.”
Referring to Defence Minister John McCallum’s comments in 2002 that Canada would rely on American forces from Seattle in the event of a disaster in B.C., Mr. Harper said that “a part of defending our national sovereignty means having a sovereign capacity to respond to crises in our own backyard. Right now, Canada can not do this – especially here in British Columbia.”
The Conservative leader announced a number of measures to secure Canada’s sovereignty on Canada’s West Coast under the ‘Canada First’ defence strategy, which include:
- Increasing Pacific navy personnel levels by about 500 regular force personnel to meet Pacific Fleet requirements and to bring CFB Esquimalt up to full strength;
- Improving the Pacific fleet by purchasing a new replenishment ship, a new transport ship, upgrading existing frigates and submarines, and initiating a longer term frigate / destroyer replacement program;
- Restoring a regular army presence in British Columbia with a new rapid reaction army battalion of 650 regular force personnel, that will be air deployable, to be stationed at CFB Comox;
- Establishing new air force surveillance capability with a new long range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) squadron with about 100 personnel to be stationed at CFB Comox, in addition to upgrading Aurora surveillance aircraft;
- Improving air force squadrons here at CFB Comox and throughout the West by deploying new fixed wing search and rescue aircraft at CFB Comox and CFB Winnipeg, and upgrading fighter aircraft at CFB Cold Lake, and;
- Providing new territorial batallions with 100 regular and at least 400 reserve force personnel each, to be prepared to respond to emergencies in Canada’s major urban areas, with battalions in the West to be stationed in the areas of Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, and Winnipeg.
In earlier announcements unveiling the ‘Canada First’ defence strategy, Stephen Harper called for the acquisition of strategic lift aircraft and improved military and humanitarian relief responsiveness in Trenton, Ontario, and announced a plan to secure Arctic sovereignty in Winnipeg. The total cost of the ‘Canada First’ defence strategy will involve spending $5.3 billion more than currently planned defence spending levels between 2006-07 and 2010-11.
“With these measures Canada will be able to preserve and protect our sovereignty, and to respond to any emergency within our borders,” Mr. Harper continued. “On January 23rd let’s stand up for our sovereignty here on the West Coast; let’s stand up for our forces, and stand up for Canada.”
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For further information: Conservative Party Press Office (613) 755-2191
