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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, FEBRUARY 1, 1985
Brian Mulroney's new Conservative government is well aware of
Canada's military distress. The defense minister, Robert Coates,
has promised to reequip the armed forces to a "significant de
gree," with priority going to the navy. During the election cam
paign, he promised $190 million more for defense--an amount that
represents about five fighter aircraft. Defense, as always, is a
very low priority for Canada••••
Such sweeping improvements in the military can come only from the
social-welfare budget--the most-sacred cow of Canadian politics.
Soviet troops may have to land in Toronto before Canadians agree
to� in their beloved welfare schemes.
Another idea that Canadian authorities came up with years ago to streamline
(and probably deemphasize) the country's military structure was to amalga
mate all branches of the military--army, navy and air force--under one com
mand, called the "Canadian forces." I remember attending the seven-nation
economic summit in Ottawa in June 1981. We journalists were told that the
various heads-of-government were to land at the "Canadian forces" base
adjacent to the Ottawa airport. An air force base was implied, but not
stated. Such "uniforce" ideas hardly inspire an esprit de corp--any more
than the "unisex" direction the U.S. military was headed during the Carter
Administration.
--Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau