'Bankrupt' Forces may shut 5 bases

[rodbarnett]

Canada's army, navy and air force are facing a funding shortfall of up to half a billion dollars, defence sources told the National Post, and the military is recommending drastic measures to make up the difference, including closing some of the largest bases in the country.

The federal government is stalling the release of internal documents that outline the looming financial crisis, but military sources said the reports indicate that in the fiscal year beginning on April 1, the air force expects to be $150-million short of funds needed to fulfill its commitments, the navy will be $150-million shy of its needs and the army will be as much as $200-million short.

<snip>

The military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the reports foresee a situation so dire that they recommend curtailing operations, dry-docking ships and mothballing vehicles or aircraft and closing at least four Canadian Forces bases.

Unless additional funding is awarded by the government, the air force is suggesting closing bases at Goose Bay, Nfld., Bagotville, Que., North Bay and Winnipeg, the sources said.

<snip>

The navy predicts it will not be able to live up to treaty obligations to NATO and other alliances and cannot carry out enough patrols of Canadian waters to comply with agreements with other government departments such as Immigration Canada or Fisheries and Oceans.

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=97f7dbbe-981a-4085-9686-e87fab611fbb

comment : can you spell "bail out:, wasn't there a recent report of Canada allowing USA strategic missle defense placements on Canadian soil?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

1. Well, It is nothing new. It's been about twenty years since the forces

were sustainable. Canada is long overdue for a debate on the future of the armed forces.

[burrowowl]

2. Let Haliburton et al

pay. They are the ones getting the money.
Bailout, no more Social Security, Medicare, etc. exactly what the Repugs have always wanted.

[MacCovern]

3. healthcare for everyone, but we won't defend ourselves!

Reading that story makes me wonder even more about universal health care.

The plan is to just let the United States defend them.

[Bandit]

4. Hmmm.. just who do they need defending from? People like Canadians

Not like Americans who virtually every country in the world despises us. You don't need a huge Army to defend yourself if you have no enemies. America has lots and lots of enemies. So we buy bombs and bullets and let our people do without education and health care. :shrug: but we are soooooooo superior.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. Well, it's not like we share a border with any rogue states or anything.

Right? Right?;-)

[demdave]

6. NATO treaty obligations and Dept. Fisheries and Oceans.

The navy predicts it will not be able to live up to treaty obligations to NATO and other alliances and cannot carry out enough patrols of Canadian waters to comply with agreements with other government departments such as Immigration Canada or Fisheries and Oceans.

But you are right, let someone else hold up Canada's end of those barains, you are too busy being soooooooo superior.