Senator: “We Canadians Need to Defend Ourselves”
October 13, 2006 :: Ottawa Citizen :: News
Canadian Senator Colin Kenny, chair of the Senate Committee on National Security and Defense, has written an op-ed in the Ottowa Citizen supporting ballistic missile defense cooperation with the U.S. “We Canadians need to defend ourselves,” he writes. “We should take advantage of what the Americans have to offer us in defending North America. We need to do that in our own national interest, not theirs.” Kenny asserts that participating in BMD would offer Canadians a “practical, cost-effective way of defending Canada.”
Noting that the U.S. system already has the potential to protect hundreds of thousands of Canadians from a rogue attack, he points out that “BMD is the closest we will ever come to a free lunch.” Yet the former Liberal government and the current Conservative government have both shied away from joining the U.S. missile defense program. “It boils down to this,” the Senator writes. “Joining BMD would undoubtedly hurt both parties’ chances of electoral success, particularly in Quebec. … As the arguments against ballistic missile defense fall away, we’re left with plain old anti-Americanism.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Canada, Allies
Canadian Senate Report Endorses U.S. Missile Defense
October 5, 2006 :: CBC News :: News
The Canadian Senate’s Standing Committee on National Security and Defense stated in a major report released Thursday that Canada should become a partner in U.S. ballistic missile defense. The report, entitled Managing Turmoil: The Need to Upgrade Canadian Foreign Aid and Military Strength to Deal with Massive Change, responded directly to the allegations of the Canadian anti-missile defense lobby, which has thus far blocked Canada from joining the U.S. program. “The Committee believes that the lobby against BMD in Canada is based more on emotions than a rational analysis of BMD’s potential benefits to Canada,” the report stated. “An effective BMD system could save hundreds of thousands of Canadian lives. This Government should not make the mistake that the last Government made, by refusing to support the United States in this project.” The report went on to list eleven reasons why Canada should partner with the U.S. in missile defense:
- BMD is designed to enhance the security of North America as a whole—not just the United States—and the defence of the continent is clearly in Canada’s interests.
- The defence of North America—in partnership with the United States—is a Canadian responsibility.
- BMD is designed to respond to an attack by deflecting the attack, rather than by retaliating. Unlike the existing Russian defensive system, BMD will not produce nuclear fallout, because BMD missiles do not have nuclear warheads.
- Canada has not been asked to contribute funds or even offer bases to locate missiles—all we have been asked to do is support the idea and enter into discussions as to how we might best be protected.
- Recent tests against complex targets have proven successful.
- Non-nuclear technology that can shoot down costly weaponry is a deterrent, not an offensive weapon that will cause an arms race.
- Weapons in space are inevitable. Better we prepare for it now than be caught unawares.
- The Americans are going ahead with the program. Participation will ensure our sovereignty by giving us a seat at the table. If we do not participate, Americans alone will decide if and how Canada is protected.
- Canada has been the recipient of information on potential ballistic missile warning threats to North America for more than 30 years. The US is considering moving that function from NORAD to their US-only Strategic Command. Should that move occur, Canada would no longer be assured of receiving such warnings.
- Even if BMD does not work, why should Canada be concerned about something that is being paid for by America to defend the continent?
- Washington is going ahead with BMD and it might end up saving Canadian lives. If there is the tiniest chance that it could, why would we turn up our noses at the opportunity to be a partner in this project?
(Article, Link)
» Read the full report by the Canadian Senate Committee
» More stories on: Resources, Canada, Allies
Canada Expected to Join BMD
January 11, 2005 :: News
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci recently remarked that he expects Canada to join America’s missile defense effort, and that they are likely do so before the end of March. “We’ve been told that it will be dealt with over the next couple of months,” said Cellucci. Even if not pursued aggressively or with the real seriousness it deserves, one may at least say that ballistic missile defense has been successfully established as a multinational cooperative effort. This successful diplomatic strategy has made the issue less controversial worldwide, but must yet be followed up by actual deployment of the defenses required. This has not yet taken place. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Canada
Bush Broaches BMD in Canada
December 1, 2004 :: Washington Times :: News
While visiting Canadian Prime Minister Martin, President Bush raised the subject of missile defense, and called on U.S.-Canadian cooperation for the defensive initiative. “I hope we’ll…move forward on ballistic missile defense cooperation to protect the next generation of Canadians and Americans from the threats we know will arise,” Bush said in a foreign policy speech. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Canada
