April 14, 2004
CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER

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As a country, we are entering one of the most pivotal decades in our history. And as Canadians, we will have important decisions to make.

Today, in this short period of time allotted to me, I would like to talk to you about the future of Canada’s defence in a complex and changing world.

And as I do so, here at this historic base, we might just want to remember the great events that we will be commemorating later this June.

Sixty years ago, Canadians were working alongside their British and American allies planning for the invasion of Normandy and the liberation of Europe. Freedom, Justice, and democracy hung in the balance as the largest armada in history steamed toward the coast of France on the eve of D-Day.

The maple leaf was very much in evidence on June 6th, 1944 as citizen-soldiers from across Canada – farm boys, office clerks, fishermen and students – surged out of their landing craft onto Juno beach and into history. Our troops advanced further inland than any other allied force that day. And by sunset, Canadians from across our land began to grasp the scale of the initial victory and the sacrifices that lay ahead.

Today, it is every bit as important that Canada step forward – just as we did during the invasion of Normandy. For the values of freedom, justice, and democracy that inspired Canadian actions 60 years ago are just as critical now as they were then.

As has been said the “world needs more Canada. I agree with that wholeheartedly. While we cannot change the world single-handedly, we can play a role far greater than our size might suggest. The need is undeniable. And the opportunity is there.

Given our proud international reputation and our cultural diversity, Canada is very well positioned to assume a catalytic role in today’s challenges to international security, whether it’s responding to crises in our own hemisphere, such as the recent upheaval in Haiti, or assuming a leadership role in NATO’s Afghanistan mission, the Canadian Forces have demonstrated that we can make a big difference.

It is with this as background that we must examine the role of Canada’s military in the 21st century. During the Cold War, the battle lines were clearly drawn. We knew the adversary and we could predict the front line. But the Cold War has been over for more than a decade. And September 11th demonstrated very clearly that the threats we face are no longer straightforward or predictable.

The real security challenge of the 21st century is centred on terror cells. Today’s front line stretches from the streets of Kabul, to the rail lines in Madrid, to cities across Canada. Our adversary could be operating in the mountains of Afghanistan, in the cities of Europe, or within our own borders.

There is no home front. The conflict is not ‘over there’. Our approach to Canada’s security and defence must reflect this reality. Merely modernizing Canada’s armed forces on old models will not suffice. We are now in the process of conducting a comprehensive international policy review for the first time in a decade. This review will help us clearly define our interests and articulate our values in the area of foreign and defence policy, aid and trade.

The work we’re undertaking on the review, to be completed by the end of the year, will ensure that our objectives and capabilities match our foreign policy goals, and that our defence and security obligations are both achievable and sustainable.
We have launched a review of our international policies.

The time has come to take strategic decisions and measures. We must take this opportunity to enhance Canada’s role within the community of nations. What does this mean for our Forces? What does this mean for Canada’s military? It means that the Canadian Forces must move forward guided by a number of key principles.

First, it means defence policy, hand in hand with diplomacy and development must be able to protect our interests and project our values. And it means that this must be done in a strategic and focussed way, by concentrating on what we do best and on what the world needs most.

Second, it means our forces must have the training and equipment to fulfill specific missions throughout the world, from operations to ensure security and stability - such as peacemaking and peacekeeping, to disaster assistance and emergency preparedness.

Third, It means our training and equipment must be modern, relevant and useable. The replacement of our tanks by the mobile gun system is a good example - of the transformation from heavy and largely unusable capacity to the lighter, more mobile capabilities that are required within the new strategic environment.

Fourth, It means working with our allies, the Canadian Forces must be able to deploy quickly where they are most needed, whether in Canada or around the world.

Fifth, it means our forces must be able to support and sustain their operations wherever they are for as long as they are required.

And finally, it means the Canadian Forces must be able to operate parallel to and alongside our closest allies and partners across a spectrum of foreign missions. And, in the case of domestic emergencies, they must be able to work closely with other government departments and first responders.

To summarize, our investments must focus on transforming our Forces to ensure they are capable, useable, deployable, sustainable and interoperable. What should be the focus of the review? Fundamentally, it must ensure we are capable of protecting Canada’s interests both at home and abroad.

We’ve put in place a number of significant measures in recent years to prevent terrorist attacks in Canada. And, we’re now laying the groundwork for Canada’s first National Security Policy. This policy will speak, in part, to our need to secure Canadians at home in times of crisis. In this respect, both the National Security Policy and the new defence policy will be closely linked.

As we’ve seen in the past – during the Manitoba flood, the ice storm in Ontario and Quebec, last year’s forest fires in British Columbia, and in the aftermath of the hurricane in Nova Scotia – Canadians look to the Forces for leadership in times of emergency.

In the context of the defence review, we are looking at having the Canadian Forces assume an even greater role in providing support to local, provincial and federal authorities in key areas of domestic security, including emergency preparedness and our response to natural disasters.

In this, Canada’s Reserve Force will be critical. The Reserve system is not realizing its full potential. Thus part of any coherent plan for protecting our interests will include ensuring our Reserves are key players in protecting Canadians in their own communities.

That being said, September 11th made it abundantly clear that we cannot adequately protect Canadians at home by focusing only on the northern half of North America.

In close cooperation with our allies and partners we must be prepared to engage our enemies wherever they are. There’s no question that by helping to bring peace, stability and prosperity to countries such as Afghanistan we are enhancing significantly the safety and security of Canadians here at home.

This is why I’m very pleased to announce today that when our current commitment ends in August, Canada will be sending an armoured reconnaissance squadron group – consisting of approximately 600 Canadian Forces members – to work as part of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, this group will be supported by approximately 200 Air Force personnel.

With our state-of-the-art Coyote vehicles, Canada will be providing critical reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities to the 34-nation international force working in Kabul.

Canada’s role in Afghanistan has all the hallmarks of the new type of operation the Canadian Forces will be expected to lead: it’s a multilateral mission authorized by the United Nations and led by NATO; undertaken at the invitation of the Afghan government, and aimed at reviving a failing state, for humanitarian reasons and at the same time ensuring that it cannot be used as a base of operations for terrorists.

Elements of defence, diplomacy and development are woven tightly together as part of the mission. The Canadian Forces, for example, provide the security that, in turn, allows organizations like Canada’s International Development Agency to support Afghanistan’s election process and democratic development.

This ‘3-D’ approach – the integration of diplomacy, defence and development – will serve as the model for Canada’s involvement in international crises in the future – crises that will take many forms. For instance, multilateralism is clearly our preferred approach to resolving international crises. But the absence of international consensus must never condemn us to inaction.

Far too often in recent times, countries that could have stepped forward as leaders in times of crisis failed to do so. Far too often they’ve felt that it was not their responsibility and have looked to others to do the job. And far too often we have seen the tragic consequences that result from the failure of the international community to act on the principles that form the very basis of the United Nations Charter.

As Lt. General Romeo Dallaire has taught us, all countries have a responsibility to ensure that the genocide is never again repeated. We must take this responsibility to heart.

Canada must be a strong advocate for intervention to protect the security of nations and those who live within their borders. We must continue to seek ways to strengthen our multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations. And, most importantly, we must be leaders in global responses to crises.

Because, ultimately, we must do more than simply stand for our ideals. We must back them up with action. And, in this, a modern and relevant Canadian Forces is absolutely critical.

Finally while we await the outcome of the defence review, we are not standing still. We are moving on initiatives to improve on the tools you have to do the job, and on your terms of service.

Properly equipping the Forces has been very much the focus of our government. In recent months, we have moved quickly to get much-needed equipment where it is most needed – into your hands.

We have committed $1.3 billion to accelerate the acquisition of new fixed-wing aircraft for search and rescue operations. This will significantly enhance the capability of the fleet and it will free up the Canadian Forces to invest in other priorities.

We are also proceeding as quickly as possible on the purchase of new maritime helicopters for the Air Force. This $3 billion project was, in fact, one of the very first initiatives this government moved on. And we are expecting proposals from the companies within weeks.

Third, we are fast-tracking the purchase of the $700 million mobile gun system for the Army. This is exactly the kind of innovative military capability the Canadian Forces require now and for the future.

The Minister of National Defence will be providing additional details on the acquisition of the mobile gun system tomorrow in London, Ontario. Finally, I am happy to announce today that the Government has approved the project to acquire three new joint support ships for the navy. A $2.1 billion project that will provide Canada with a significantly enhanced maritime capability, both at home and abroad.

Let me say one thing. The $7 billion investment we’ve made in the Canadian Forces since December has one aim and one aim only: to ensure that when we ask our men and women in uniform to stand in harm’s way, they have the equipment they need to get the job done – safely and effectively.

People are at the centre of everything we do in government. And at Defence, I know taking care of our people is central to carrying out their mission. We must ensure no one gets left behind. In this vein, the Government has over several years implemented many Quality of Life improvements, I believe these changes have made the Canadian Forces a better, more responsive employer.

Gone are the days when, I’m told, officers would say to non-commissioned members “if we wanted you to have a family, we would have issued you one.” With this in mind, we told you in the recent budget that those serving in harm’s way in Afghanistan would no longer be required to pay income tax. This measure is a reflection of the gratitude that Canadians feel – given all that you and your families are doing for Canada.

Today, I’m pleased to announce that this tax relief initiative will be extended to Canadian Forces personnel serving in Bosnia and Haiti. In fact, all high- and medium-level overseas deployments will be included in this measure.

In conclusion, as I said at the beginning of these remarks, Canada is now at a defining moment in its history. Putting in place a new strategic plan for the Canadian Forces is a critical element in ensuring that Canada’s role in the world is one of influence and pride.

Whether in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Haiti or here at home in Canada, our men and women in uniform are a force for good, and ready to make a world of difference.

It’s now up to all of us to support them – to support you. And it’s up to us to make the change needed to strengthen the Canadian Forces and Canada’s place in the world.

Thank you.