INDEPTH: BUDGET 2005
Defence
CBC News Online | Updated April 27, 2005
[Note: On April 26, the Liberals and New Democrats reached an agreement-in-principle that the Liberal minority government will make changes to its 2005 budget in exchange for NDP support. The changes can be found here.]
$12.8B boost for the military
Canada's military will get a $12.8-billion shot in the arm over the next five years, the biggest increase in defence spending in two decades, Finance Minister Ralph Goodale said Wednesday as he brought down his second budget.
About $3 billion will go to boosting the strength of the Canadian Forces by 5,000 troops and the reserves by 3,000 soldiers – a promise made by the minority Liberal government in October's speech from the throne.
Defence spending currently stands at $13 billion a year for 60,000 full-time troops.
Ottawa has earmarked another $3.2 billion to bolster the Canadian Forces' "operational readiness." The money is meant to cover training, improved medical care, supply and repair shortages, and infrastructure repairs.
The federal government said it will spend $2.7 billion between 2007 and 2010 on helicopters, trucks, aircraft and a training facility for JTF2, Canada's special forces unit.
Finally, Ottawa is promising another $3.8 billion to cover costs that will come out of the government's upcoming international policy statement and defence policy review.
"This significant investment in our military means that we will be able to better meet our responsibilities abroad and protect our people at home," Goodale said in his budget address.
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