Canadian Perspectives Spring 2004

In January of this year, Paul Martin approved a new stage of negotiations with the United States on Canada’s participation in the ill-considered national missile defence program. The government wants these talks to “ensure the closest possible involvement and insight for Canada.”

Paul Martin has made his support for missile defence very clear, but most Canadians do not know that we are already in negotiations, because the government has released only scraps of information on the progress of these talks. That’s why Canadians deserve a full parliamentary and public debate before anything is signed away.

How Much Will Missile Defence Cost Canadian Taxpayers?
Canada’s share could be many billions of dollars, thereby draining resources from other priorities for decades to come. The Pentagon admits that the final cost of the system defies estimation, but some analysts put it at $200 billion or more. The Bush administration has made it clear that it expects its allies to help pay for the “war on terrorism,” including missile defence.

Canadian officials have downplayed the cost estimates; some even have suggested that it may cost Canada next to nothing. That’s a pipe dream. A Canadian military official recently indicated that the Department of National Defence has nearly half a billion dollars ready to pay for Canada’s participation in missile defence.

Will New Military Bases and Missiles Be Deployed in Canada?
The U.S. is building their missile defence system in phases. A crude system is to be deployed this year, with subsequent phases adding new capabilities. This approach allows the system to win political approval early so that the more controversial components can be added later. Using Canadian territory would improve the early detection of missiles launched from the Middle East (though none exist there at present); Canada could therefore be required to build new radar and interceptor missile sites in the Arctic and on the east coast. Interceptor missiles could also be put on board Canadian ships that patrol regularly with U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups around the world.

Will the Americans Put Weapons in Space as Part of the System?
Canada’s foreign policy remains opposed to placing weapons in space, and Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham recently denied that Canada’s involvement in missile defence will break this commitment. However, every American official associated with missile defence, including Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, considers space-based weapons part of the planned future phases of the system.

Canadian corporate chief executives and lobbyists, many of whom brought us free trade a decade ago, are eager to win friends in the Republican-controlled White House and they want Canada to build up its military and join national missile defence. They argue that military spending and security co-operation will help ensure Canada’s trading interests and access to the U.S. market. Alarmingly, Paul Martin has accepted much of the CEOs’ advice.

Since taking office Martin has unabashedly created a new security ministry in Canada (modelled on the U.S. Homeland Security department), appointed the hawkish David Pratt as defence minister, and frozen capital spending on everything except new tanks and helicopters for the military. Further, during his meeting with President Bush in Monterrey, Martin has pledged that Canada would rework its foreign policy to be more compatible with that of the United States.

A web site has been established at www.ceasefire.ca to allow Canadians to tell Paul Martin to reject national missile defence and pursue an independent role for Canada.

Maude Barlow is the National Chairperson of The Council of Canadians. Steven Staples is the Director of the Project on the Corporate-Security State for the Polaris Institute.

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