If there’s one lesson we’ve learned from the first 94 days of the Trump madness, it is that Canada needs to become much more independent in trade and defence.
As consumers, we’ve taken the first small but important steps by deciding buy to Canadian, whenever and wherever we can. The premiers have committed to tearing down interprovincial trade barriers; let’s make sure they actually do it.
We also need to expand trade with Mexico, the United Kingdom and the European Union, the Caribbean and South America, and pursue new markets with willing partners.
True independence also involves the re-assertion of Canadian sovereignty.
The current federal election campaign has produced several useful ideas when it comes to national defence.
Beyond new ships and fighter jets, the Liberals are proposing submarines and drones.
The Conservatives promise two additional icebreakers for the navy – and to deliver the two now under construction by 2029.
All three parties are promising to increase our presence in the Arctic. The Conservatives and NDP have committed to building a base in Iqaluit and the Conservatives say they’d do it in two years.
We also need to invest in our existing bases.
A hardened border could also include a role for the Armed Forces, which might be expanded to include a national border patrol.
These things will require more people and more money. We need to quickly fill the thousands of vacancies in the Armed Forces. And the members deserve a raise.
We’ve never fulfilled our NATO commitment to spend two per cent of GDP on defence. We should move to do so immediately, with a plan to increase that to three per cent by 2029. The United States is already demanding that NATO allies develop a plan to get that to five per cent.
The NDP’s idea of a new national savings bond could help pay for these trade and defence initiatives. Call it the true north sovereignty bond. Where can I sign up?
And let’s do all of these things regardless of who wins the election.
