As Canada faces escalating threats to our sovereignty, some act as if there is nothing we can do to build a more robust national defence. However, there are steps we can take to immediately strengthen our country.
In times of crisis, the worst thing we can do is be passive. Giving in to a sense of helplessness is understandable but only worsens things.
Instead, looking at relatively simple and immediate steps we can take to become more resilient is far more productive.
That’s what we need to do as Canada faces escalating threats to our sovereignty.
Canada’s underfunded military won’t be rebuilt in a day, but we can take action now to become a stronger nation.
Here are three steps the government should take to do exactly that:
1 – Rapidly expand the Munitions Supply Program
Established in the 1970s, the Munitions Supply Program was created “to secure a national capability for the supply of critical ammunition, small arms and associated equipment to the DND and the CAF.”
As noted by the government, “While DND is the MSP’s largest user, the program is available to other government departments and agencies such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Correctional Services Canada (CSC), and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).”
These are the suppliers:
- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems—Canada (GD OTS-C): Production of small, medium and large calibre ammunition, propellants and explosives
- GD OTS-C has 3 plants and access to a government-owned munitions experimental test centre in Quebec
- Ammunition load, assemble and pack plant, and corporate headquarters—Repentigny
- Metal forming plant—Saint-Augustin
- Energetic materials plant—Valleyfield
- Government-owned munitions experimental test centre—Nicolet
- GD OTS-C has 3 plants and access to a government-owned munitions experimental test centre in Quebec
- Magellan Aerospace: Rockets, illumination flares and rocket propellant—Winnipeg, Manitoba
- IMT Defence: Forged projectiles and specialized machining—Ingersoll and Port Colborne, Ontario
- Colt Canada: Manufacture and provide life-cycle support for small arms fleets—Kitchener, Ontario
- HFI Pyrotechnics Inc.: Search and rescue markers, training equipment and other pyrotechnic technology—Prescott, Ontario
The Canadian Government should immediately invest $5 billion in the MSP, with a particular focus on acquiring more small arms and 155mm artillery shells.
2 – Purchase more LAVs & TAPVs
Canada produces Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV6s) and Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicles (TAPVs) domestically.
We should put in an immediate order for 500 additional LAV6s, and 250 TAPVs.
We should also immediately reach out to Rheinmetall to explore the possibility of purchasing modular air defence platforms and look at integrating them on a portion of our LAVs.
3 – Accelerate recruitment through better incentives
The government should immediately start running patriotic ads focusing on Canada’s proud history of defending human rights and freedom. These ads should be backed by significant financial resources, and target all social media platforms young Canadians currently use.
Those ads should be accompanied by expanded enlistment bonuses. Many Canadians – especially young Canadians – are facing severe financial difficulty, and large enlistment bonuses will be a real incentive for many to join.
We should also begin deploying more of our CAF Reserve Forces, backed by large active duty pay incentives.
We also need to launch a rapid base-building and base-enhancement initiative, alongside increasing social/healthcare support for currently serving CAF members and upgrading military housing ASAP.
Take action now
There is much more Canada should do – and can do – to make our nation stronger and protect our sovereignty, but the three steps mentioned above can rapidly build up some positive momentum to rebuilding our armed forces and show we are serious about defending ourselves and contributing meaningfully to our alliances.
Spencer Fernando
