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[ Original Article ]
Liberals neglected army, Harper says
4-year, $5.2 billion plan for defence
Where he'd find extra money is unclear
ROBERT BENZIE
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
TRENTON - The Liberal government has undermined Canada's sovereignty by allowing the armed forces to deteriorate, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper says.
Unveiling a four-year, $5.2 billion promise to boost military spending if he forms the next government, Harper yesterday accused prime ministers Paul Martin and Jean Chrétien of making the country look bad on the world stage.
"Neglecting our armed forces has been a neglect of our sovereignty and has weakened us in Washington and around the world," he told about 100 supporters at a rally outside CFB Trenton.
"Over the past 10 years, the Liberals have cut $20 billion in purchasing power from the Department of National Defence. As a result, we have fewer personnel, older equipment, and are far too reliant on the United States."
Harper, who eventually wants to increase the forces to pre-1993 levels of about 80,000, promised to have 65,000 Canadians in uniform by the end of his first four-year term. That's up from about 52,000 today.
"It enhances our sovereignty. When it really counts, protecting our sovereignty, guarding our security and ensuring that Canada is an important player on the international stage with an effective military, the Liberals are all talk and no action," he said.
"The Canadian Armed Forces are not just another government department."
To that end, a Conservative government would inject an additional $1.2 billion annually for the next three years and $1.6 billion in the final year of the first mandate.
The annual defence budget currently is about $13 billion.
Harper did not identify what government services would be cut to free up so much money for defence.
"Later this week we will be releasing our full platform that will have all the fiscal details. We will have different priorities than this government. They will not just include tax cuts. They will include different spending priorities," the Conservative leader said.
"We will be focusing our spending increases in a few ... priority areas, including national defence. We will certainly not be running HRDC (Human Resources Development Canada) boondoogles, sponsorship scandals and gun registries," he said, referring to Liberal spending scandals.
Harper spoke ambiguously when asked if he would have sent troops to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year.
"We would have supported our (31) troops that were already there (serving with U.S. and British forces) and would have supported our allies. We should morally support our allies against Saddam Hussein. I was not for Saddam Hussein. I was not neutral. I was for our allies.
"It was unforgivable that our government would have people in a war zone and not fully support their mission," said Harper.
Then he emphasized that there is "no capacity to extend the commitments of the Canadian Forces in Iraq."
Last year, Harper said Canada should stand "shoulder to shoulder" with its allies against the now deposed and detained Iraqi leader.
Liberals neglected army, Harper says
4-year, $5.2 billion plan for defence
Where he'd find extra money is unclear
ROBERT BENZIE
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
TRENTON - The Liberal government has undermined Canada's sovereignty by allowing the armed forces to deteriorate, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper says.
Unveiling a four-year, $5.2 billion promise to boost military spending if he forms the next government, Harper yesterday accused prime ministers Paul Martin and Jean Chrétien of making the country look bad on the world stage.
"Neglecting our armed forces has been a neglect of our sovereignty and has weakened us in Washington and around the world," he told about 100 supporters at a rally outside CFB Trenton.
"Over the past 10 years, the Liberals have cut $20 billion in purchasing power from the Department of National Defence. As a result, we have fewer personnel, older equipment, and are far too reliant on the United States."
Harper, who eventually wants to increase the forces to pre-1993 levels of about 80,000, promised to have 65,000 Canadians in uniform by the end of his first four-year term. That's up from about 52,000 today.
"It enhances our sovereignty. When it really counts, protecting our sovereignty, guarding our security and ensuring that Canada is an important player on the international stage with an effective military, the Liberals are all talk and no action," he said.
"The Canadian Armed Forces are not just another government department."
To that end, a Conservative government would inject an additional $1.2 billion annually for the next three years and $1.6 billion in the final year of the first mandate.
The annual defence budget currently is about $13 billion.
Harper did not identify what government services would be cut to free up so much money for defence.
"Later this week we will be releasing our full platform that will have all the fiscal details. We will have different priorities than this government. They will not just include tax cuts. They will include different spending priorities," the Conservative leader said.
"We will be focusing our spending increases in a few ... priority areas, including national defence. We will certainly not be running HRDC (Human Resources Development Canada) boondoogles, sponsorship scandals and gun registries," he said, referring to Liberal spending scandals.
Harper spoke ambiguously when asked if he would have sent troops to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year.
"We would have supported our (31) troops that were already there (serving with U.S. and British forces) and would have supported our allies. We should morally support our allies against Saddam Hussein. I was not for Saddam Hussein. I was not neutral. I was for our allies.
"It was unforgivable that our government would have people in a war zone and not fully support their mission," said Harper.
Then he emphasized that there is "no capacity to extend the commitments of the Canadian Forces in Iraq."
Last year, Harper said Canada should stand "shoulder to shoulder" with its allies against the now deposed and detained Iraqi leader.
