Editorial: Canada's tough guy act
When it comes to Vladimir Putin and Russia’s inexcusable incursion into Eastern Ukraine, Canada sure talks a big game.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said “the most important thing we need to do is to rally all of our allies throughout the Western world, and throughout the greater global community, to understand that peace and stability is being threatened here in a way that it has not been threatened since the end of the Cold War.” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird claimed recently that “no other government has stood up more forcefully and aggressively against the Russian aggression in Ukraine.”
But our country’s response looks like the guy shouting “hold me back fellas!” in a confrontation while his friends stand around rolling their eyes.
Earlier this week, Canada and Germany derailed a NATO plan that would see member countries commit to boosting their defence spending to at least two per cent of GDP. Canada, which only spends about one per cent, wants an “aspirational target” instead, and it appears that’s what NATO will settle for. Despite this, the prime minister’s spokesman said Canada agrees with NATO that members should boost their defence dollars, and this country is doing just that. According to a briefing note obtained by the Canadian Press, however, annual spending on the military is set to shrink by $2.7-billion in 2015 versus 2011.
Read more: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/world/editorial-canadas-tough-guy-act
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