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Ladies and gentlemen, Canada needs change to a new government – a new government that will bring accountability to Ottawa, and will get on with addressing the real priorities of ordinary working families – priorities like cleaning up government, cracking down on crime, and cutting the GST. Priorities that will move Canada forward after 12 years of scandal and inaction.
As I have already done during this campaign, today I would like to talk about our “Canada First” defence strategy. Before Christmas, I announced our plans to acquire heavy transportation aircraft and to be able to provide an emergency military relief throughout Canada and around the world. I also announced our plans to secure Canada’s sovereignty over the arctic. We would do so by purchasing new icebreakers, deploying more planes and soldiers in the North, and by installing an Arctic National Sensor System to detect foreign ships. I would like to say a few more words about our Arctic sovereignty today.
Last week, the Prime Minister said that American ships already notify their Canadian counterparts when entering Canadian waters. But he was deliberately ambiguous when asked whether he knew about the passage of the USS Charlotte, saying “up to now, I haven’t had a confirmation.” By all evidence, the government was not aware of this voyage. The 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 cannot even be forthcoming about what it knew and when, then it is in no position to protect our arctic sovereignty. Remember, this is the same government that talks tough about softwood lumber during an election campaign, but did nothing to stand up to the United States for four years while the U.S. was collecting illegal duties. It is time for a government that won’t just talk about sovereignty, but will act to stand up for Canada.
Today, I want to talk about what a “Canada First” defence strategy would mean for British Columbia and Western Canada in particular. Canada’s West coast is vital to our national sovereignty. It was Sir John A. Macdonald’s dream of joining British Columbia with Canada by railway that helped to ensure our sovereignty over the entire northern half of North America. British Columbia is our window on Asia and the Pacific. Our Pacific waters are home to vital trade routes, fishing grounds, and resource wealth. British Columbia has a land mass larger than France, Germany, and Switzerland combined. But unless we know what is going on in our waters, in our airspace, and on our land, we cannot call ourselves a truly sovereign country.
Over the last twelve years, Canada’s military capacity in this region has been allowed to wither. Our Pacific Naval Fleet, based at CFB Esquimalt, and our Pacific Air Force presence, here at CFB Comox, have been allowed to age and deteriorate. And the only regular army base in British Columbia, CFB Chilliwack, was closed as a result of the 1995 budget. British Columbia is now the only region of the country without a regular army presence.
This neglect has left the West coast short of the military forces needed to enforce Canadian sovereignty and to respond in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake. In 2002, then defence minister John McCallum said Ottawa would have to rely on U.S. response teams based in Seattle in the event of a disaster in British Columbia.
Canada must do better for British Columbia. And with a Conservative government, Canada will be able to do better for BC. The Conservative party’s “Canada First” defence strategy means Canada will be able to defend our national sovereignty, and to respond to crises in our own backyard.
To achieve this aim, a Conservative government will restore our military presence in British Columbia and across Western Canada. We must rebuild the navy and air force presence in British Columbia, and bring back a regular army presence. Specifically we will take the following measures to secure our sovereignty here on the West coast:
First, we will increase Pacific navy personnel. We will recruit 500 regular force personnel for the Pacific fleet’s ship crew requirements and also recruit additional personnel to bring CFB Esquimalt up to full strength. We will renew the Pacific fleet. It is time to add new replenishment and transport capabilities to the fleet. It is time to upgrade our frigates and submarines, and it is time to start a frigate/destroyer replacement program for the longer term.
Second, we will expand the surveillance capability of the air force. We will establish a new long range Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) squadron here at CFB Comox with about 100 personnel, and also upgrade our piloted surveillance aircraft. We will also improve air force squadrons at CFB Comox and throughout the west. We will deploy new fixed wing search and rescue aircraft at CFB Comox and also at CFB Winnipeg, and upgrade the fighter aircraft at CFB Cold Lake.
Third, we will restore the regular army presence in British Columbia. We will establish a new rapid reaction battalion of about 650 troops, which will be air deployable, right here at CFB Comox.
And finally, we will create new territorial defence units to be prepared to respond to any emergency in our major urban areas. These units will each be composed of a mix of 100 regular and 400 or more reserve troops, and will be stationed in areas of Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, and Winnipeg, and in other metropolitan areas across the country.
The measures I have just announced, along with our other plans for rebuilding existing military units, mean Canada will be well placed to protect our sovereignty, and to respond to any emergency within our borders.
So on January 23rd, Canadians face a clear choice. Let’s stand up for our sovereignty here in Canada’s pacific, 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
