HALIFAX -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled his government's plan to spend $30 billion on the military, in a long-term vision statement that was swiftly criticized Monday for being behind schedule and scant on detail.
Harper confirmed there was little new in the announcement, delivered to about 100 military personnel at a drill hall inside the Halifax Armoury. But he insisted that the 20-year plan heralded a new way of doing things for the Armed Forces.
The plan calls for boosting the number of regular and reserve troops and moving ahead with replacement of the military's fighter jets, surface combat ships, maritime patrol vessels, transport helicopters, armoured vehicles, helicopters and fixed-wing search-and-rescue aircraft -- among other things.
Lack of detail in the Canada First plan generated skepticism among critics.
-- The Canadian Press
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