Western Standard - Trudeau's defence plan won't survive first contact with the enemy

00:00:00.000 This Canadian Forces base where we are today, CFB Trenton, was established in the time of peace

00:00:05.840 between the First and Second World Wars. It was farmland that became an air base for the Royal

00:00:12.100 Canadian Air Force. It opened nearly a century ago, and during the Second World War, it became

00:00:18.260 the largest training centre and unit of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

00:00:24.400 My grandfather, James Sinclair, would have come through Trenton when he was a member of the RCAF

00:00:29.440 on his way to serve in North Africa during the Second World War. People came here from far and

00:00:36.000 wide to train and fly. People who went off to war. People who fought to defend what Canada stands for.

00:00:43.760 Freedom, justice, fairness, and peace. A lot of people who didn't come home. They were a generation

00:00:52.920 that made immense sacrifices so we, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren

00:00:59.620 could live in peace. Service to country and to Canadian values defines who we are.

00:01:08.220 We've always known that we're the best country in the world, so we understand our obligation

00:01:13.300 to do our part. It's what we did in World War I and World War II, where names like Vimy Ridge,

00:01:21.300 Dieppe, and Juneau Beach became part of Canadian lore. It's what we did in the decades that followed.

00:01:27.860 It's why Kapyong Hill in Korea, Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar, and Camp Adatsi in Latvia are so meaningful.

00:01:37.220 Canadians are connected to the world, and we've always punched above our weight.

00:01:44.420 Today, we live in an increasingly complex and challenging time. So now, more than ever,

00:01:51.860 the world needs more Canada, and the world needs more Canadians. And whereas in the entirety of the 0.67

00:01:59.300 20th century, we sent our people out to the front lines across the world, we are now on the front lines

00:02:07.620 of new and evolving threats. Technological advances and cyber attacks mean there are myriad ways for

00:02:15.780 engagement that go beyond traditional borders. Rising and disruptive powers like China and Russia

00:02:23.540 mean NATO's northern and western flank is the Canadian Arctic. And climate change is rapidly reshaping

00:02:32.820 Canada and reshaping our north. The Northwest Passage could become the most efficient shipping route

00:02:40.500 between Europe and Asia by 2050. That's just 26 years away. Canadians are once again called upon to meet

00:02:51.140 the moment. Today, we are announcing our next commitment to our armed forces and to Canadians' security

00:02:59.460 with the investments laid out in our north, strong and free. It makes $73 billion worth of investments

00:03:09.220 over the next 20 years. Our north, strong and free, invests in new surveillance capabilities

00:03:17.060 for land, sea and air in the north. It leverages Canada's world-class technology, including in AI and

00:03:24.900 quantum, so we can stay ahead of the curve. It creates jobs, and importantly, it supports all those of you

00:03:32.980 who serve. This is about protecting our values, our sovereignty, and our north. Indigenous peoples have

00:03:42.020 long been integral to Canada's identity as a northern nation. But too often, defence in the north has been

00:03:49.460 entirely separate from the people who've lived there for millennia. This must never again be the case.

00:03:57.060 Our investments in the north must serve both Canada's defence and the well-being and success of the Inuit,

00:04:06.100 First Nations and Métis, who've always been its stewards. This is something I've heard directly from

00:04:12.180 Inuit leadership and a crucial piece of our work together to advance the Arctic and Northern policy

00:04:18.500 framework. And we are supporting our friends in Ukraine as they push back against Putin. Russia's

00:04:26.980 illegal and unjustifiable invasion is a direct attempt to fracture the foundations of democracy

00:04:35.300 and our global rules-based order. It's an attempt to undermine the values and principles that previous

00:04:42.500 generations fought for, subsequent generations benefited from, and that we must secure for this

00:04:50.020 generation of Canadians and the next. This is why we are stepping up once again. To preserve and defend

00:04:58.100 the rules-based order that has allowed people around the world to prosper for the better part of the

00:05:03.380 last century. To stand up for Canadian values like freedom, justice, fairness, and peace. To keep Canada

00:05:12.420 and the world safer in a time of increasing difficulty, now is the time to do even more. And our government

00:05:21.140 is answering the call with this investment.

00:05:23.700 The world changes, but our values as Canadians do not change.

00:05:38.740 Every day, you, as proud members of the Canadian Armed Forces, show us what service to country,

00:05:45.700 service to the values, ideals, and people of this country means. We need you. The world needs you to

00:05:55.380 continue to step up. And we will be there to give you the support and resources and tools you need to match

00:06:04.580 your courage, your courage, and your convictions.

Western Standard - April 09, 2024

Trudeau's defence plan won't survive first contact with the enemy

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