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toms3
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Holy smokes...He actually said it!!!...read below.
Chretien says Ottawa to increase defence budget
CTV News Staff
Canada‘s military will get more money in the upcoming budget, Prime Minister Jean Chretien said Thursday, acknowledging that cuts have taken a toll on Canada‘s defence.
"We‘ve had to cut and I recognize that, and we‘ve restored some of the financing and at the time of the budget I expect that there will be some increase," Chretien told reporters in Prague, where he‘s attending the two-day NATO summit.
The announcement comes a day after U.S. President George Bush urged NATO members to boost their defence spending.
Bush didn‘t name any specific countries but Ottawa‘s current military budget is 1.1 per cent of the size of the economy -- far below the 2.1 per cent NATO average and the 3.0 per cent spent by the U.S.
"We are at the level that is competitive in NATO. Some say we should be higher, but Canada is Canada," Chretien said. "It‘s not our highest priority --defence."
Recent reports have described the Canadian military as being on the verge of collapse with a lack of personnel and rusting, outdated equipment.
Chretien said the government has added about $2.5 billion to defence spending over the past three years, but that the military will have to duke it out with other items high on the social agenda for surplus dollars come budget time.
The new budget is expected in February.
"We have medicare that is on the table; we have infrastructure that is on the table ... our children agenda, native problems, environmental problems -- all that is on the table so there has to be some arbitration.
"But there will be some increase, yes, for defence. But how much? The minister of finance will let you know the night of the budget," Chretien said.
Unlike Defence Minister John McCallum, who said Bush should mind his own business, Chretien said the president‘s remarks calling on NATO countries to spend more on military didn‘t bother him.
Still, Chretien said neither Bush nor other U.S. officials should be lobbying for higher defence spending in Canada.
"It‘s our preoccupation," Chretien said, denying that Bush has ever directly singled him out for a discussion on the issue.
Chretien has been trying to douse controversy over U.S.-Canada relations, following McCallum‘s comments and word that a top aide had called Bush "a moron."
"He‘s not a moron at all, he‘s a friend. My personal relations with the president are extremely good," Chretien said.
Also Thursday, Chretien held bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Durao Barroso.
The NATO summit concludes Friday.
With a report from Canadian Press.
Chretien says Ottawa to increase defence budget
CTV News Staff
Canada‘s military will get more money in the upcoming budget, Prime Minister Jean Chretien said Thursday, acknowledging that cuts have taken a toll on Canada‘s defence.
"We‘ve had to cut and I recognize that, and we‘ve restored some of the financing and at the time of the budget I expect that there will be some increase," Chretien told reporters in Prague, where he‘s attending the two-day NATO summit.
The announcement comes a day after U.S. President George Bush urged NATO members to boost their defence spending.
Bush didn‘t name any specific countries but Ottawa‘s current military budget is 1.1 per cent of the size of the economy -- far below the 2.1 per cent NATO average and the 3.0 per cent spent by the U.S.
"We are at the level that is competitive in NATO. Some say we should be higher, but Canada is Canada," Chretien said. "It‘s not our highest priority --defence."
Recent reports have described the Canadian military as being on the verge of collapse with a lack of personnel and rusting, outdated equipment.
Chretien said the government has added about $2.5 billion to defence spending over the past three years, but that the military will have to duke it out with other items high on the social agenda for surplus dollars come budget time.
The new budget is expected in February.
"We have medicare that is on the table; we have infrastructure that is on the table ... our children agenda, native problems, environmental problems -- all that is on the table so there has to be some arbitration.
"But there will be some increase, yes, for defence. But how much? The minister of finance will let you know the night of the budget," Chretien said.
Unlike Defence Minister John McCallum, who said Bush should mind his own business, Chretien said the president‘s remarks calling on NATO countries to spend more on military didn‘t bother him.
Still, Chretien said neither Bush nor other U.S. officials should be lobbying for higher defence spending in Canada.
"It‘s our preoccupation," Chretien said, denying that Bush has ever directly singled him out for a discussion on the issue.
Chretien has been trying to douse controversy over U.S.-Canada relations, following McCallum‘s comments and word that a top aide had called Bush "a moron."
"He‘s not a moron at all, he‘s a friend. My personal relations with the president are extremely good," Chretien said.
Also Thursday, Chretien held bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Durao Barroso.
The NATO summit concludes Friday.
With a report from Canadian Press.
