While some say there's never enough, others say there's too much: in the fall of 2005, a Senate report called for a doubling of the Defence Department's budget from $14 billion and increasing enlistment from 60,000 to 90,000.(DEFENCE--SPENDING)

Publication: Canada and the World Backgrounder

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COPYRIGHT 2006 Canada & the World

The International Institute of Strategic Studies points out that Canada has boosted defence spending in recent years: by $800 million in 2003, to $12.2 billion, after raising it by $300 million the previous year. Spending rose again in 2004 to $13.3 billion. But, those increases still only raised the level to that of the early 1990s. At one percent of gross domestic product, Canada's military expenditures were about half the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standard of two percent in 2004.

In April 2005, the Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin announced a $13 billion increase in defence spending. A policy statement promised to boost Canada's overseas capabilities and defend Arctic sovereignty. There were going to be 5,000 more soldiers, plus 3,000 more reservists, and an upgrade in equipment with new ships, aircraft, and vehicles within five years.

Under the new Conservative government, the armed forces have been promised more money and manpower. The Tory's May 2006 budget promised $5.3 billion in extra defence spending over five years. This is on top of billions pledged by the Liberals. The federal government's figures would boost the defence budget to $16.5 billion in 2007-08 from $14.6 billion in 2005-06, and to about $20 billion by 2010.

There will be a vigorous debate over where the money goes. Defence Chief General Rick Hillier will be fighting for scarce government resources. General Hillier was recently described as "the most visionary, charismatic, and highest profile chief of the Defence Staff in decades." That was Eugene Lang, writing in a Globe and Mail article in March 2006. Mr. Lang knows whereof he speaks. He was Chief of Staff to Liberal defence ministers John McCallum and Bill Graham while General Hillier was Defence Chief....

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