Canada must pay fair share for defence

Re: “Navy submarine HMCS Windsor returns after 5-month deployment,” June 21, and “Chicoutimi commander switches subs,” June 22. Canadians are content to default the security of our land to the Americans. Governments over decades have allowed our armed forces to atrophy, with the navy rusting out and the number of combat capable ships reduced to the lowest level since before the Second World War.

The U.S. has lived with this situation, at the expense of the U.S. taxpayer, because of the peaceful nation on its northern border. This has come to an end, as the U.S. president has, by letter to our prime minister, put Canada on notice that this is no longer acceptable.

The current government has promised to increase defence spending, but it has been mainly talk. This is manifested by actions such as the missed opportunity to purchase a second refuelling and supply ship, delaying the replacement of fighter aircraft and not commencing a program to purchase new submarines. Their only commitment is to provide funds to keep the existing four submarines going to 2030 before they rust out.

It is time for Canadians to wake up from their slumber and insist that our governments provide Canada’s fair share of North American and multilateral defence. Not doing so will raise the consequential wrath of U.S. administrations and taxpayers. Robin Allen Victoria