By Lloyd Brown-John

Mac Johnston, former editor of Canadian publication ‘Legion Magazine,’ published a book in 1994 titled “Corvettes Canada: Convoy Veterans of WWII Tell Their True Stories.”

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Notable among many who recorded their war experiences was Windsor Lt.-Commander Cliff Hatch who was in charge of three small warships in the Second World War before returning to Windsor and a brilliant career, eventually as head of Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd. distillery.

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In the concluding paragraph of Johnston’s fascinating collection of Canadian navy veterans’ memories of life on one or more of the 113 Canadian wartime corvettes he comments: “In the final analysis, Canada has never been a military-minded country.”

He adds words to the effect when war breaks out we build up rapidly and when war ends we return to ignoring war.

Perhaps one of the most compelling differences between Canadians and Americans is that many Americans are veterans with combat experience.

Given America’s global role, being ready for war with the finest combat technology is inherent in their culture. In Canada, quite the opposite is the case, although we have veterans.

Canadians, when called upon, have distinguished themselves in war as capable and dedicated combatants. Therein lies the core problem. We even invented “peacekeeping” as a role a smaller country with a limited military could handle.

As Mac Johnston documented well, when war broke out in 1939 Canadians were ill-prepared for the enormous challenge which faced them. Training was minimal. Equipment was nonexistent or outdated.

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In those corvettes, for example, enthusiastic volunteers faced constant sea sickness, dreadful accommodation, lousy food — if they could hold it down — and almost no significant training and, initially, rather primitive technology. Some ships went into war with dummy guns in hopes of fooling an enemy.

Yet, despite the loss of several corvettes and the deaths of many crew, they prevailed, capturing or sinking a few enemy submarines and then returning home after the war as the Navy complement was reduced and the ships mothballed or scrapped.

During extended periods of peace Canada’s military also has taken on new tasks, often in response to natural disasters. A side impact has been equipment worn down by aiding civilians in Canada and limited replacement funds.

Trudeau’s Liberal government has been quick, justifiably at times, spending money almost as if there is no tomorrow. Yet, when it comes to funding our military as chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre testified before the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence on Sept. 28, an already stretched and strained military is being asked to remove around $1 billion more from Canada’s defence budget.

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Canada has yet to meet its NATO defence budget commitment of two per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). In practice, Canada’s defence expenditures rarely reach 1.29 per cent GDP.

One of the easiest ways to impose budget cuts is to require an across-the-board trimming, say 10 per cent. Yet, that type of budgeting can destroy programs which, in the case of Canada’s military, could cost lives.

As if to drive the impact home, consider the ironic and embarrassing plight of a prime minister and staff plus media stranded in India because of a parts failure on a Canadian Forces aircraft.

Fundamentally, I am not a fan of war and have always believed deeply in peace. Indeed, here’s a reminder that Oct. 24 is United Nations Day, ostensibly a day to celebrate peace and world order.

Nevertheless, we are surrounded by war — in Ukraine; with threats of war as China seeks to gobble up the Republic of Taiwan and surrounding seas; and insanity of ISIS still running rampant in several African countries.

Peace omens are not good. So we must consider the alternative and that might involve much more than supporting Ukraine in defeating Russian leader Putin’s insanity.

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Canada’s military has a proud history. To sustain our military for the incredible number of tasks for which they may be called upon, Canada’s military needs Trudeau’s government to provide the funding on a continuous basis to support and enhance our military capabilities.

Give General Eyre the tools and funds our military needs. Mr Trudeau, limit parsimony for our military budgets and let’s give our military the tools they need to do the jobs we expect.

P.S. ElderCollege has three courses this autumn on Canada’s military history.

Lloyd Brown-John is a University of Windsor professor emeritus of political science. He can be reached at [email protected].

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