QUESTION PERIOD — National Defence
Defence Budget
October 3, 2023
This is a question for the Government Representative, Senator Gold.
Senator, the Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair, has announced a $1-billion cut to Canada’s defence budget. The minister assures Canadians that the cut will impact the bureaucracy and not hit the Canadian Armed Forces’ capabilities. Yet, on September 28 in a committee in the other place, the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated that a cut of this magnitude will impact operational capability.
To be clear, capability is more than just a frigate, a fighter jet or an armoured personnel carrier. Capabilities include the well‑trained people of Canada’s military, the programs that support them, their families and the places they work and live and, of course, our participation in international alliances like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. All those who serve have faith not just in the equipment but also in the support from their government. The bottom line up front is that you cannot seek peace by neglecting the first line of defence against a threat.
My question is as follows: What bureaucracy is the government going to cut? Will it be programs that support Canadian Armed Forces member training, health and welfare, programs for their families, our international alliances and partnerships such as NORAD and NATO or our commitment to Latvia and Ukraine?
Thank you for your question. The minister indicated — as a prudent minister would — that:
The fiscal environment in Canada right now requires that when we are spending Canadian taxpayer dollars that we do it carefully and thoughtfully.
The government will approach this announced spending cut thoughtfully and prudently.
The global situation has changed so rapidly. Canada is constantly re-evaluating its responsibilities in that regard. I think it is premature to assume that the government knows exactly where that $1-billion cut may come from, but I have every confidence that it will be done both with the needs of the military and the security not only of Canadians but of the world, of which we are an important part, top of mind.
