‘Eye-watering numbers’: Reaction to Canada’s new $6.6B defence strategy

Paul Hollingsworth reports on what is known about the feds’ new defence strategy and the impact it will have on Halifax.

HALIFAX — A new $6.6-billion national defence strategy is reportedly designed to support Canadian businesses and position Canada to shift away from an overreliance on the United States for defence support, while still meeting its NATO commitments.

The new plan, expected to officially be unveiled on Tuesday, includes targets of increasing defence exports by 50 per cent and industry revenues related to defence by 240 per cent.

• Ottawa announces new defence industrial strategy

Prime Minister Mark Carney was supposed to unveil these changes last week, but that announcement was delayed after the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

‘Eye-watering numbers’

The new plan will also add 125,000 Canadian defence jobs over the next 10 years.

“These are eye-watering numbers in terms of investment into defence,” said Peter MacKay, former minister of national defence. “And yet there is still a distinct lack of details.”

MacKay also has lingering questions as he awaits more details.

“Where does the money come from and is the money coming from cuts to other departments?” asked MacKay. “Does it come from a drastic increase in revenues that will be generated by sales of Canadian goods, mainly energy, or is this all going to be just borrowed money?“

‘Industries that are all connected’

A total of 125,000 defence jobs could have a major impact on Halifax, a city with a rich military history.

“We are home to the largest Canadian Armed Forces base in the country,” said Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore. “We are home to the 5th Canadian Division of the army, 12 Wing Shearwater Airforce Base and home to East Coast Navy.”

According to military historian John Boileau, other Canadian cities would also be positioned to benefit.

“Obviously Bombardier in Quebec and London, Ontario has General Dynamics Land Systems,” said Boileau. “But Halifax has army, navy, and air force industries that are all connected.”

Both MacKay and Fillmore cautioned, while an influx of defence jobs over the next decade could result in an employment boost, it could also lead to some pressures if more people come to Halifax at a time when a housing shortage is already impacting the city.