Sinclair
05-03-2006, 01:03 PM
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1146606640638&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968350116467
OTTAWA—Canada's armed forces are getting a $5.3 billion boost but the budget contains few specific ideas how the new cash will be spent, suggesting a backroom clash of visions over the future direction of the military.
Yesterday's budget gives the forces an extra $400 million this year, $725 million more next year for a total of $5.3 billion over five years. That investment is on top of the $12.8 billion increase to defence funding promised by the Liberals last year.
The injections should bring the budget to $16.5 billion in 2007-2008 from $14.6 billion last year.
But the only specific defence promise in the budget was a vow to accelerate the hiring of 13,000 new full-time soldiers and 10,000 reservists.
The Conservatives have pledged to acquire equipment needed to support "multi-role, combat-capable maritime, land and air force."
More at the article, of course.
I think this is long overdue, the Canadian troops are seeing combat in Afghanistan... Much better to have a well-supplied military all the time, than to have to scramble when something big (Bigger than Afghanistan) happens.
OTTAWA—Canada's armed forces are getting a $5.3 billion boost but the budget contains few specific ideas how the new cash will be spent, suggesting a backroom clash of visions over the future direction of the military.
Yesterday's budget gives the forces an extra $400 million this year, $725 million more next year for a total of $5.3 billion over five years. That investment is on top of the $12.8 billion increase to defence funding promised by the Liberals last year.
The injections should bring the budget to $16.5 billion in 2007-2008 from $14.6 billion last year.
But the only specific defence promise in the budget was a vow to accelerate the hiring of 13,000 new full-time soldiers and 10,000 reservists.
The Conservatives have pledged to acquire equipment needed to support "multi-role, combat-capable maritime, land and air force."
More at the article, of course.
I think this is long overdue, the Canadian troops are seeing combat in Afghanistan... Much better to have a well-supplied military all the time, than to have to scramble when something big (Bigger than Afghanistan) happens.