Preparing for potential aggression

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/04/2023 (1281 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Over a year ago, Vladimir Putin’s Russia invaded Ukraine and made veiled threats of nuclear escalation if foreign countries directly intervened in the conflict. Putin’s illegal invasion is the largest military conflict in Europe since the Second World War and has greatly impacted geopolitical dynamics.

Canada has joined its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and across the world to support the people of Ukraine against Russia’s imperialistic and unjustified aggression. Numerous war crimes and atrocities committed by the Russian military have been documented. The international community has condemned these terrible acts and placed severe sanctions on the Putin regime.

We have seen Ukraine bravely stand up to Putin’s army, and we have seen how Canadians have supported Ukraine, opening their homes to those displaced by Putin’s atrocities and donating generously toward organizations to support Ukrainians here in Canada and those in Ukraine. We will continue to stand with our allies, support Ukraine, and pray for a Ukrainian victory and for peace.

As the vice-chair of Canada’s Public Safety and National Security Committee (known as SECU), I proposed that the committee invite security experts to review Canada’s defence capabilities against Russian aggression in the changing global landscape, and to further to assemble a public report of these experts’ testimony.

I am pleased to confirm that the completed study was tabled in the House of Commons in March.

Over the course of seven months at SECU we heard from 40 witnesses, including Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP, Canadian Security Intelligence Service and Canada Border Service Agency personnel, academics, and experts on a variety of related subjects.

Canada shares a large maritime boundary with Russia in the Arctic. Should Russian aggression continue to escalate, Canada must be prepared to defend the safety of its citizens and the sovereignty of its territory. Many questions remain with regards to our military, logistical, cyber, and rapid response capabilities. Policymakers and the public required a thorough summary, incorporating a variety of perspectives, of these capability concerns.

I am proud to say that through a collaborative effort, all parties agreed to produce a report with policy recommendations for government to ensure Canada’s continued national security.

The completed report makes 21 recommendations, including for Canada to meet its NATO commitment of defence spending equal to two per cent of GDP, for the federal government to create a foreign agents registry, and for Canada to modernize the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Canada cannot afford to be complacent; we must prepare ourselves for a new era of international relations that are increasingly marked by tension and volatility.

I have no doubt that Canadians are up to the task of overcoming any and all threats we face.