CF personnel expansion to take some time (II)

Been there, done that (thanks to the Toronto Star) before the Ottawa Citizen's David Pugliese (top of the fold, front page):

Forces' expansion behind schedule

From a CP story (the misleading headline should end with the word "growth":

"Following a detailed analysis of the resources required to fund all Defence initiatives announced under Budget 2006, sustain the operational commitments in Afghanistan, prepare for Olympics 2010 and support (Canadian Forces) transformation, the expansion was re-profiled to 68,000 regular force and 26,000 primary reserve paid strength by fiscal 2011-2012," says the report tabled in Parliament last week...

The Conservatives have said they are the party that rebuilt Canada's defences but the Liberal head of Senate security and defence committee said Friday that claim is turning out to be a sham.

"These guys are talking as though they're friends of the military," said Senator Colin Kenny. "They're talking as though Canada has robust armed forces. They've got huge surpluses, (but) they're setting up the Forces to fail."

Kenny's committee has argued that the country's defence budget should be increased to $35 billion by 2011-2012. But a leaked draft copy of the Tories' Canada First defence strategy shows the Conservatives have no intention of meeting that suggested target, and projects only modest growth in the current $18 billion envelope.

The performance report noted that although the Defence Department has received budgetary increases, it is still required to contribute to the federal government's expenditure reduction plan by giving back an estimated $203 million in budget savings.

"It's bizarre and it's deceitful to be handing them more with one hand and then taking away with another," said Kenny...