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http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060625/military_spending_060625/20060625?hub=TopStories
CTV.ca News Staff
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor says his $15 billion spending plan is necessary to update a military that has been hollowed out after years of underspending and cutbacks.
Speaking on CTV's Question Period, O'Connor said the massive spending plan is an absolute necessity.
"What we're trying to do now is put in place the very basic requirements of the military to be effective. Mobilities - air mobility, army mobility on the ground, and mobility at sea, so that's where we're starting."
Beginning this week, O'Connor and Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be visiting four Canadian cities across Canada to build support for the plan -- which makes the largest single defence spending bonanza in the nation's history.
The wishlist includes $2 billion for three naval support ships, $1.1 billion for new army trucks, $4.2 billion for 15 heavy-lift helicopters, and $7.5 billion for tactical and heavy-lift aircraft.
O'Connor countered allegations that he and Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hiller were at odds over the spending plan.
Insiders suggested Hillier wanted short-haul tactical airlift capable of landing on rough fields with speed and greater protection, while O'Connor wanted strategic lift.
O'Connor told Question Period the military, between 2003 and 2005, made four recommendations to the former Liberal government -- all of which were denied -- to acquire strategic lift.
"The military are 100 per cent behind strategic lift and so is Gen. Hillier. The only issue is how much money we have and what we can afford to have," O'Connor said.
However, the military will be getting both needs answered -- ending any crossing of swords between Hiller and O'Connor.
"Right now the cabinet has provided me with enough money to buy strategic and tactical lift. So there's never been a dispute whatsoever."
Under the current arrangement, the Canadian military rents heavy-lift aircraft from Russia and Ukraine whenever it is needed.
That arrangement is unacceptable, O'Connor said, because it means those countries can refuse access to the equipment if they disagree with the purpose.
The planes are also available on the commercial market, which means the military is competing against other private customers to use the equipment.
In addition, the planes are not certified for use in Canada, beyond landing and taking off.
In addition to overseas use, the new equipment will give Canada the ability to meet needs within its own borders.
"We shouldn't be depending upon other countries. We shouldn't be depending upon other countries ... to lift our troops or our equipment. We've got to be self reliant."
O'Connor also dismissed suggestions he has major conflicts of interest on a number of spending announcements, stemming from his days as a lobbyist.
Critics have demanded he remove himself from the deal, but he has so far refused and shows no sign of changing his mind.
"I don't have any conflicts. I've said this a number of times. I have no relationships to any company at all. I own no shares, I have no revenues, I have nothing from these companies. And if you understand the process, I have no say in who competes and I have no say in who wins."
However Ujjal Dosanjh, the Liberal defence critic, told Question Period O'Connor has a number of conflicts because companies he was involved with as a lobbyist are bidding on the new contracts.
"If he's not involved then why doesn't he just recuse himself and say I wouldn't be involved. He has never said that. The fact is the people he used to meet with in his previous life as a lobbyist are now reporting to him, some of them are still there, with respect to joint support ships, with respect to trucks, and others, he is conflicted."
Dawn Black, the New Democrat defence critic, criticized the speed at which the spending plan has been passed and the changing nature of the military.
However, Black supported giving troops the equipment they require.
"Of course we support a well equipped Canadian Forces. We're asking the men and women of the Canadian Forces to take on ever more dangerous tasks, so they must be equipped with what they need to do the job we ask them to do."
CTV.ca News Staff
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor says his $15 billion spending plan is necessary to update a military that has been hollowed out after years of underspending and cutbacks.
Speaking on CTV's Question Period, O'Connor said the massive spending plan is an absolute necessity.
"What we're trying to do now is put in place the very basic requirements of the military to be effective. Mobilities - air mobility, army mobility on the ground, and mobility at sea, so that's where we're starting."
Beginning this week, O'Connor and Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be visiting four Canadian cities across Canada to build support for the plan -- which makes the largest single defence spending bonanza in the nation's history.
The wishlist includes $2 billion for three naval support ships, $1.1 billion for new army trucks, $4.2 billion for 15 heavy-lift helicopters, and $7.5 billion for tactical and heavy-lift aircraft.
O'Connor countered allegations that he and Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hiller were at odds over the spending plan.
Insiders suggested Hillier wanted short-haul tactical airlift capable of landing on rough fields with speed and greater protection, while O'Connor wanted strategic lift.
O'Connor told Question Period the military, between 2003 and 2005, made four recommendations to the former Liberal government -- all of which were denied -- to acquire strategic lift.
"The military are 100 per cent behind strategic lift and so is Gen. Hillier. The only issue is how much money we have and what we can afford to have," O'Connor said.
However, the military will be getting both needs answered -- ending any crossing of swords between Hiller and O'Connor.
"Right now the cabinet has provided me with enough money to buy strategic and tactical lift. So there's never been a dispute whatsoever."
Under the current arrangement, the Canadian military rents heavy-lift aircraft from Russia and Ukraine whenever it is needed.
That arrangement is unacceptable, O'Connor said, because it means those countries can refuse access to the equipment if they disagree with the purpose.
The planes are also available on the commercial market, which means the military is competing against other private customers to use the equipment.
In addition, the planes are not certified for use in Canada, beyond landing and taking off.
In addition to overseas use, the new equipment will give Canada the ability to meet needs within its own borders.
"We shouldn't be depending upon other countries. We shouldn't be depending upon other countries ... to lift our troops or our equipment. We've got to be self reliant."
O'Connor also dismissed suggestions he has major conflicts of interest on a number of spending announcements, stemming from his days as a lobbyist.
Critics have demanded he remove himself from the deal, but he has so far refused and shows no sign of changing his mind.
"I don't have any conflicts. I've said this a number of times. I have no relationships to any company at all. I own no shares, I have no revenues, I have nothing from these companies. And if you understand the process, I have no say in who competes and I have no say in who wins."
However Ujjal Dosanjh, the Liberal defence critic, told Question Period O'Connor has a number of conflicts because companies he was involved with as a lobbyist are bidding on the new contracts.
"If he's not involved then why doesn't he just recuse himself and say I wouldn't be involved. He has never said that. The fact is the people he used to meet with in his previous life as a lobbyist are now reporting to him, some of them are still there, with respect to joint support ships, with respect to trucks, and others, he is conflicted."
Dawn Black, the New Democrat defence critic, criticized the speed at which the spending plan has been passed and the changing nature of the military.
However, Black supported giving troops the equipment they require.
"Of course we support a well equipped Canadian Forces. We're asking the men and women of the Canadian Forces to take on ever more dangerous tasks, so they must be equipped with what they need to do the job we ask them to do."