OTTAWA – “There’s no place like home” could become the battle cry of the Canadian military as spending on overseas operations is forecast to take a steep dive.
Internal Defence Department reports show total spending on foreign deployments could to drop to just $5 million in the 2014-15 fiscal year from the current, anticipated $476 million.
The figures are contained in June 1, 2012, financial report by the department’s assistant deputy minister of finance and obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says the budget will be balanced by 2015.
The records show that by then, the Harper government expects it will no longer be paying for the tear-down and clean-up of the Kandahar combat mission, nor the Afghan training mission in Kabul, which is set to end early next year.
More significantly, it has not budgeted for any new operations, including a renewal of the current peacekeeping missions, nor has a contingency fund been set aside.
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@Zarudny
Maybe you want the Govt. to build a bridge over Lake Superior. Take a look at the Geographical Map, there are the Great Lakes to contend with.
Zarudny makes a good point on infrastructure. The MTO recently annouced they would stop the planning of 4 laning from Ottawa to the Manitoba border. Short sided thinking from Ontario government and Feds. Free and safe flow of goods is critical for any economic activity.
That was a hypothetical smarter use of money, since nobody wants to fund the arts and the export of culture. I won’t pick away at your logic of using this statement in the context of military spending, so I’ll say this as a driving example: Toronto – Regina – 2683km through the states. Reroute through Thunder Bay, and it’s 2655km. With this route through Thunder Bay, you lose a few hours to two lane highways on the way. When people who drive these routes drive through the US as an alternative, all the money they spend along the way is injected into the American economy rather than kept in the Canadian economy. There’s one example for you. But by all means, don’t waste money on Highways if that isn’t your bag – put it into the export of Canadian Culture, and funding of homegrown Canadian businesses – that’s always the smartest option with the most payoff in the long run. The average Canadian just isn’t smart enough to see it, unfortunately. People think “being on the world stage” involves the military. It doesn’t it involves the export of homegrown business innovation and culture.
If I can remind folks, Harper did not send the troops to Afganistan, Jean Chretien sent them. Canadian Armed Forces involvements in Libya and North Africa have been measured and minimal. The bare minimum to stay aligned with our allies and treaties.
Let’s deal with facts, not personal feelings.
Its about time Herr Harper got rid of this ‘lock and load’ military mentality. I am all for supporting our troups in peace keeping roles. Although if another ‘crisis’ comes up I’m all to sure he would be all to happy to (again) send Canada to war.
put that money into infrastructure. Everywhere in Canada needs upgrades to infrastructure. HOw about some more highways? I’d like to be able to get to owen sound or sudbury without using a 2 lane road at 80km/h. Or when I google map a route to BC, i would like to not have to cross through the US to save time.
It’s about ‘bloody-less’ trime !
Take care of OUR own elderly, disabled and protect OUR country..
We can’t afford to solve every world crisis.
The politicians broke our bank with their generousity to self and abroad.