Why We Need A Strong Navy
The new Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier has indicated that under his command the main focus of the Canadian Forces will be on re-invigorating the Canadian Army. Though he has paid lip service to Canada’s Navy, he should not forget that investing and re-vitalizing Canada’s Navy is the best way to get the biggest bang for the limited defence buck..A navy provide flexibility in a multitude of ways.
Namely -
(a) Canadian warships have a vital role in defending Canadian territory, sovereign waters and our economic interests. Through ensuring the movement of commercial shipping to and from Canadian ports, a navy protects our economic interests. The Navy can directly protect Canada on a daily basis from foreign and domestic over-fishing, drug and contraband smuggling, and illegal immigration. In addition to performing these quasi-policing actions, the Navy can also protect Canadian shores and in-land waterways from any foreign or domestic threat (i.e. terrorism). Through sailing a ship through the North-West passage, raising a Canadian flag and having presence in the North we establish control.
(b) In addition to being able to effect control of domestic waterways and sovereign waters, note that oceans cover over 71% of the earth’s surface. Not surprisingly, the majority of the world’s cities and urban population live within 200 kilometres of a coastline. Through controlling the oceans, navies control access to land, the international movement of shipping and trade. Transport of commercial goods on the seas is the mainstay of international commerce. Without ensuring the movement of Canadian imports and exports in ports the Canadian economy would collapse. Through naval control of use of the seas, the flow of international trade beyond our shores can be controlled as well.
(c) The neat thing about navies is that in addition to the aforementioned protection functions, they also have the ability to sail and transport personnel, humanitarian aid or military resources to areas of strategic interest when needed .Through this ability, navies have the significant ability to affect events on land. A Canadian warship can sail to any destination in the world, park off the coast and in doing so have an influence. Having a small piece of Canada off the coast of an area of interest is a very visual and effective way of saying "we are here and we are involved." Just by being there, and no doing anything else, sends a clear message. Think of driving down the highway and seeing a police car behind you. We all automatically slow down and become more driving conscious; and
(d) Sailing a self-sustaining warship, with sailors on board, through international waters and parking it off the coast of an area of strategic interest is the quickest, most economical in the short and long term, of providing Canadian presence. Once on site a Canadian warship, just by being their a strategic diplomatic function is fulfilled. At the same time international influence and deterrence is effected.
It is imperative that General Hillier not forget that investing and re-vitalizing Canada’s Navy is the best way to get the biggest bang for the limited defence buck.
Namely -
(a) Canadian warships have a vital role in defending Canadian territory, sovereign waters and our economic interests. Through ensuring the movement of commercial shipping to and from Canadian ports, a navy protects our economic interests. The Navy can directly protect Canada on a daily basis from foreign and domestic over-fishing, drug and contraband smuggling, and illegal immigration. In addition to performing these quasi-policing actions, the Navy can also protect Canadian shores and in-land waterways from any foreign or domestic threat (i.e. terrorism). Through sailing a ship through the North-West passage, raising a Canadian flag and having presence in the North we establish control.
(b) In addition to being able to effect control of domestic waterways and sovereign waters, note that oceans cover over 71% of the earth’s surface. Not surprisingly, the majority of the world’s cities and urban population live within 200 kilometres of a coastline. Through controlling the oceans, navies control access to land, the international movement of shipping and trade. Transport of commercial goods on the seas is the mainstay of international commerce. Without ensuring the movement of Canadian imports and exports in ports the Canadian economy would collapse. Through naval control of use of the seas, the flow of international trade beyond our shores can be controlled as well.
(c) The neat thing about navies is that in addition to the aforementioned protection functions, they also have the ability to sail and transport personnel, humanitarian aid or military resources to areas of strategic interest when needed .Through this ability, navies have the significant ability to affect events on land. A Canadian warship can sail to any destination in the world, park off the coast and in doing so have an influence. Having a small piece of Canada off the coast of an area of interest is a very visual and effective way of saying "we are here and we are involved." Just by being there, and no doing anything else, sends a clear message. Think of driving down the highway and seeing a police car behind you. We all automatically slow down and become more driving conscious; and
(d) Sailing a self-sustaining warship, with sailors on board, through international waters and parking it off the coast of an area of strategic interest is the quickest, most economical in the short and long term, of providing Canadian presence. Once on site a Canadian warship, just by being their a strategic diplomatic function is fulfilled. At the same time international influence and deterrence is effected.
It is imperative that General Hillier not forget that investing and re-vitalizing Canada’s Navy is the best way to get the biggest bang for the limited defence buck.