Achi news desk-
Canada is on track to spend tens of billions more on defense in the coming years, as the federal government points to climate change, increasingly aggressive international competition and new sovereignty risks in the high Arctic as challenges key to tackling them.
Announced Monday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario, spending is expected to total just over $8 billion over the next five years and $73 billion over the next two decades for new equipment and infrastructure. , including improvements to Canada’s air and sea fleets, communications technologies and services for military personnel.
“This is about preserving our values of democracy, freedom, peace, and fairness for the next generation of Canadians, so they can enjoy the same security and prosperity given to us by our parents and grandparents, ” statement by the Prime Minister. Office said.
“Increasing challenges to the international order that has long protected Canada’s prosperity and security, the increasing impact of climate change, and the pace of technological change all affect Canada’s national interests.”
Here is a breakdown of where the new money is intended to go by 2044, according to statements from the federal government:
Equipment: $28.3 billion
- Marine sensors: $1.4 billion in surveillance technology to detect and monitor activity in Canada’s marine systems, below the surface of the ocean.
- Helicopters: $18.4 billion in new tactical helicopter capabilities to improve response time and coverage to natural disasters, emergencies and potential violations of Canadian sovereignty.
- Early warning aircraft: $307 million in aircraft to detect, monitor and warn of airborne threats.
- Global satellite networks: $5.5 billion toward efforts to gain access to global satellite networks, with a specific focus on protecting against jamming of communications by adversaries.
- Long-range missiles: $2.7 billion to establish missile systems that can operate at greater ranges, more effectively hitting new potential targets and creating barriers to threats abroad.
- Submarines: An unspecified amount will replace and add to Canada’s fleet of submarines, including those that can operate under ice along the north coast.
Infrastructure: $41.6 billion
- General infrastructure: $10.2 billion in repair and renovation of Canadian military assets and facilities (such as piers and runways), as well as training and “day-to-day military activities.”
- Northern operational support hubs: $218 million toward an expanded presence at military installations in the Arctic, year-round, to enforce sovereignty and provide infrastructure to support northern communities.
- Naval fleet maintenance: $9.9 billion in spending to extend the life of some of Canada’s Navy ships and to maintain the ability to replenish at sea.
- Cyber operations: $2.8 billion towards a new, unified cyber operations apparatus between the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), a Canadian intelligence agency.
- Ammunition: $9.5 billion to build a strategic ammunition stockpile and to accelerate domestic production of artillery rounds.
- Maintenance: $9 billion in spending to maintain military equipment through Canada’s national acquisition program.
Personnel services: $2.7 billion
- Housing: $295 million in spending on new and renovated housing for CAF members.
- Childcare: $100 million to improve access to CAF-based childcare by 2029.
- Health records: $497 million to support continuity of care for CAF members moving between states.
- Civilian support jobs: $1.8 billion in personnel spending to improve recruitment, procurement and infrastructure services.
The new defense spending will be part of the 2024 federal budget, which will be presented on April 16.
With files from The Canadian Press
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