Canada’s Defence Crossroads: Urgent Steps for National Security Under a Changing America

Yes, he’s a fascist (credit: AP)

Canada Faces an Unprecedented Challenge After U.S. Election

I hope everyone is feeling okay today. If you’re not, please practice some self-care and reach out if you need to. Many of my readers are likely unsettled by the U.S. election results, as a significant plurality of Americans has elected a fascist and authoritarian as president.

For Canada, the implications are significant. A new Trump administration could create seismic shifts that affect our country in unexpected ways, and I’m skeptical that our political leaders are fully prepared for what could come.

A Changing United States and Canada’s Position

As the U.S. turns inward, we could face what Dan Gardner calls “gangster isolationism,” where a militarized America leverages its power for purely self-serving reasons. This “MAGA” mindset, amplified by the far right, has far-reaching implications for Canada, leaving us exposed to a U.S. that prioritizes its interests aggressively. Canada is not well-positioned to respond to this shift; our policies lack the focus and maturity needed to confront an unrestrained, self-interested Trump-led government.

Our leaders seem to believe that appealing to “American common sense” or “sunny ways” will address this reality. The Liberal government’s tendency to focus on economic issues over security and defence may be short-sighted, especially given that Trump’s administration will likely prioritize military and security issues that could directly impact Canada.

Canada’s Political Responses: Liberals and Conservatives

The Liberal Approach

The Liberal government is likely to respond with diplomacy, trying to persuade an administration in Washington that sees everything in transactional terms. However, the assumption that Trump can be convinced through rational appeal or that he is a predictable actor is dangerously flawed. His track record shows he does not respond well to negotiation unless it’s obsequious and deferential.

Furthermore, the Liberal Party often views policy through an economic lens, avoiding security and defence issues that need urgent attention. This ideological approach could put us at a strategic disadvantage, leaving our defence priorities underfunded and ill-prepared for the challenges ahead.

Conservative Shortcomings

The Conservatives, however, are no more prepared to handle these challenges. They might believe that shared conservative values give them an advantage with a Trump administration, but they overlook Trump’s purely transactional nature. Ideology aside, they also lack a coherent defence strategy and are telegraphing cuts to defence spending to fund tax and deficit reductions—an approach that could be disastrous in today’s geopolitical climate.

Canada’s Vulnerability in Defence and Security

Make no mistake: a Trump administration will likely prioritize U.S. defence and security as its core concerns, and they may view Canadian defence capabilities as a potential liability if not improved. The U.S. could demand that Canada bolster its military to better serve North American defence. Failing to meet these demands might prompt the U.S. to seek more direct influence over our security, possibly even proposing U.S. basing rights within Canadian territory, which would undermine our sovereignty.

In Canada, we have avoided serious discussions about defence for too long, viewing it as either militarism or as a lever for partisan gain. We cannot afford to stay passive; we need to grow up and address our defence capabilities with seriousness and urgency.

Immediate Actions Canada Must Take

To protect our sovereignty and security in this evolving landscape, Canada should take decisive actions to bolster our defence capabilities and demonstrate our commitment to self-defence. Here’s what I believe are the critical steps:

• Accelerate Key Defence Projects: Prioritize air defence, anti-tank systems, airborne early warning, artillery replacements, F-35 systems, and other high-priority capabilities.

• Develop Sovereign Capabilities: Invest in Canadian-led intelligence gathering, strategic communications, electronic security, and cyber warfare capabilities.

• Diversify Defence Purchases: Reduce reliance on U.S. defence equipment by seeking alternatives from other allies.

• Increase Defence Spending to NATO Standards: Immediately boost spending to meet NATO’s 2% GDP target. Enough of the shell games—Canada must genuinely invest in its defence.

• Expand the Military: Raise the Regular Force to 75,000 and the Reserve Force to 30,000. Recruiting and retention efforts must be a priority.

• Broaden Defence Alliances: Supplement our NATO commitments by exploring additional bilateral agreements with European allies and revisiting the Conservative proposal to engage more closely with the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

• Reform Defence Procurement: Overhaul our inefficient procurement system, which has consistently delayed critical defence projects. For a deeper look into these procurement challenges, please read Canada's Defence Procurement Debacle.

• Strengthen Arctic Defence: Station more combat-capable units north of the 60th parallel and accelerate deployment of surveillance assets.

• Renew Commitment to NATO and Ukraine: Continue to support NATO’s mandate and stay committed to Ukraine, regardless of U.S. decisions.

Charting Canada’s Own Course with Caution

To be clear, I consider a Trump-led U.S. as an unreliable ally and a potential threat to Canada’s security and interests. We must approach this administration with caution, recognizing that their priorities are now even more narrowly American-centric. If they view Canada as a liability, the results could be severe for our sovereignty and security.

This is a call to action: it’s time for Canada to take its defence seriously, for our political leaders to engage with experts, and for citizens to demand a coherent security strategy.

On a Personal Note

As a small, personal protest, my family has decided to forgo travel to the U.S. while Trump is in power and will prioritize Canadian products wherever possible. While this may seem symbolic, it’s our way of drawing a line and reinforcing our commitment to Canada’s values.

Stay Strong

Hold tight, everyone. These could be challenging times for Canada, and we need to be ready.