QUESTION PERIOD — National Defence
North American Aerospace Defense Command
December 10, 2024
Senator Gold, this past Friday, when responding to questions on Canada’s newly released Arctic Foreign Policy, Minister Joly suggested it might be time to reconsider the 2005 decision not to join the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense program. Russia has already used intermediate-range ballistic missiles with devastating impacts against Ukraine and is prepared to use them indiscriminately and has also mentioned intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The threat is real. As Russia is Canada’s neighbour, we need to be realistic about defending ourselves, starting now.
When can we expect to hear about our government’s way ahead on how we counter ballistic missile threats in Canada, in our Arctic, and in North America?
Thank you for your question and, again, for underlining the strategic importance of defending our North from the increasingly challenging threats that it faces not only from our neighbour Russia but from other countries that have designs on our North.
This government has made historic investments and will continue to make historic investments in our defence and in that which is necessary for our sovereignty.
It will also continue to work in the context of NORAD and with our allies, including the United States, to defend Canadian sovereignty in the north of North America.
These are challenging times. I do not need to multiply the challenges, but this government is committed to doing everything that it can to protect and advance our interests, including our sovereignty and national interests in the Arctic.
Minister Joly rightly stated, ”I think we have to be extremely realist with the threat towards the Arctic,” and this includes the fact that China was not much present in 2005. We are also acutely aware of the current and incoming administration of our neighbours to the south in terms of our 2% NATO commitment.
As a proud and sovereign nation, we do not respond very well to being shamed into action. Will the government be proactive and push forward this review of our participation with the U.S. — or not — in some form of ballistic defence program?
Thank you for your question. I think the most honest and accurate answer I can give is this government is engaged now in a very serious exercise to address how it is going to work with its partner to the south on a range of issues that I need not elaborate upon.
As time unfolds, we will learn more about the steps that Canada, as a proud, independent nation, is going to take to remain a proud, independent nation.
