Canada's security policies.

Publication: Behind the Headlines

Publication Date: 22-DEC-02

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COPYRIGHT 2002 Canadian Institute of International Affairs

INTRODUCTION

The new federal government under Paul Martin has stated its intention to reverse the decline, evident over the last few decades, in Canada's position in the world. Achieving this goal will involve review and revision of our present programs in the areas of foreign policy, security policy, and international aid policy, which are to a considerable degree interdependent. This paper relates mainly to security and defence policies and programs.

Canada's basic defence objectives remain very much the same as they have been since the end of the Second World War. Our situation in North America, our vast extent and our wealth of resources, to say nothing of our proud military history, require us to maintain armed forces. We must ensure the protection of our sovereign territory. We wish to co-operate with like-minded countries in defending against possible external aggression, and in preventing or containing threats to peace and security elsewhere in the world. Like most other developed countries, Canada is currently seeking to reorient its international relations in the aftermath of the Cold War and following the emergence of new and very different threats to peace and stability. Some of these threats relate not only to the world outside, but also to our own territory.

Until the collapse of the Soviet empire, our defence plans and programs were dominated by the threat of a major war in Europe between massed, heavily armed forces. The structure of our forces today still largely reflects these concerns. This is understandable, in that forces so structured can also be employed in protection of our territory, in control of serious civil unrest, and in international peacekeeping. We must consider, however, whether the force structure of the Cold War era represents the most efficient utilization of limited resources in today's world.

It is most unlikely that Canada will again become involved in hostilities between advanced heavily armed sovereign states in the foreseeable future. True, our forces participated in the Gulf War and would probably have joined in the invasion of Iraq if the United States had been able to persuade the Security Council to endorse it. But while participation in such hostilities is both possible and useful when the necessary relatively specialized units are available, maintenance of a high-quality but small-scale heavy combat capability for such situations should not be the highest priority for Canada.

The protection of our own territory and its approaches remains a high priority, as well as the ability to participate effectively in overseas interventions such as Bosnia and Afghanistan, whether they are required to put an end to intolerable treatment of citizens or to counter international terrorism. Our current capabilities allow us to contribute only a small number of well-qualified military forces to the overseas operations.

Geography, coupled with the fact that the United States is probably the chief target for the current variety of international terrorism, gives Canada a special responsibility for the defence of the North American continent against the entry of terrorists. We must search for ways to improve the quantity and the quality of the Canadian contributions, including those provided by police, coast guard, intelligence, the immigration department, and other agencies as well as the military.

Recognizing the competing demands on the financial resources of the federal government, we should identify changes to security and defence programs for which the costs would be modest and could be offset to some extent by reductions in capabilities of lower priority, by opportunities for Canadian industry, and by the establishment of capabilities that would have economic and social value as well as improving security for Canada. And it would be preferable if new acquisitions and their financial costs could be spread over an extended period.

DEFENCE AGAINST TERRORISM

We believe that the greatest threat to North American security today lies in terrorism. Defence against terrorism can be conducted in different geographical areas:

1) in the distant countries where the main leadership and training grounds for terrorism are located, and hatred of western developed countries is encouraged;

2) on the approaches to North America through which terrorists make their way to Canada and the United States;

3) in North America, identifying terrorists already present and putting a stop to their activities;

4) At specific locations in North America, protecting sites likely to be attacked, limiting damage and planning for early restoration of whatever services have been impaired.

Overseas activities to counter terrorism

Over the long run, it is the operations in the overseas countries that will probably be the most likely to overcome terrorism. This must be a very widespread international effort, in which Canada can play only a relatively modest role.

Nevertheless, significant contributions can be made with Canadian military contingents, such as the force currently in Afghanistan, perhaps with the addition of police personnel; by Canadian embassies and consulates abroad, in the screening of applicants for Canadian citizenship; and in the provision by Canada of aid of many kinds to poorer countries.

The long process of rebuilding and restructuring a damaged country which still harbours dedicated remnants of terrorist networks is likely to...

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