Challenges facing MND MacKay

Further to Babbling's post, a Media Advisory from the Conference of Defence Associations (received by e-mail) that makes some important points:

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release

30 October 2008

From: Captain (Ret’d) P.W. Forsberg, CD, Public Affairs Officer

CONFERENCE OF DEFENCE ASSOCIATIONS WELCOMES RE-APPOINTMENT OF PETER MACKAY AS MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE

Ottawa – The Conference of Defence Associations (CDA) welcomes the re-appointment of the Honourable Peter G. MacKay as Minister of National Defence. Mr. MacKay’s re-appointment can be seen as a reflection of the Prime Minister’s confidence in his Minister’s management of the defence envelope.

While we see as good policy Mr. MacKay’s retention of the defence ministry we see more strategic changes looming in the not too distant future, such as further economic turmoil and new political administrations for two countries of the North American continent. The more significant challenge for the Prime Minister will be the balancing of the priorities that Canada faces in light of the economic disturbances that will impact on the Government’s ability and willingness to execute the Canada First Defence Strategy (CFDS) [more on the strategy here and here].

The CDA recognizes that the Minister will be facing challenges to the ongoing transformation and realignment of the Canadian Forces (CF) with the government’s defence policy. In addition to the challenge of balancing the Government’s priorities, the CDA has reservations whether funding will be adequate to support the CFDS [more on funding here and here]. Mr. MacKay’s re-appointment is, hopefully, the Prime Minister’s signal to Canadians, the federal bureaucracy, and Canada’s allies of the new government’s commitment to continue to strengthen Canada’s defence capabilities.

Mr. MacKay’s appointment is testimony to his dedication in fostering the betterment of our Armed Forces. The CDA can assure the Minister of National Defence of the Associations’ continuing support in his efforts to oversee the ongoing restoration of the CF.