So much for the Conservative's "Canada First Defence Strategy"

Never, ever believe a long term political spending promise. First Babbling:

MacKay's spin

Now Tony, then me, via Milnet.ca:

1)

Here's the budget page, and I've attached the defence budget info (extracted from the 400+ page major document) - defence section:

.....Restraining Growth in National Defence Spending

In recent years, the Government has made major, necessary investments in the country’s military capabilities in support of the Canada First Defence Strategy, the Government’s long-term vision for the Canadian Forces. The Canada First Defence Strategy is a long-term commitment to modernize the Canadian Forces. The strategy sets out key objectives of growing the Forces, recapitalizing air, land and naval fleets, and other major equipment, restoring infrastructure, and ensuring the Canadian Forces are ready to deploy in the defence of Canada and Canada’s interests both at home and abroad. The Canada First Defence Strategy continues to point the way forward for Canada’s military.

In addition to incremental funding received for deployed operations, National Defence’s annual expenses have increased from $15 billion in 2005–06 to $18 billion in 2008–09. In 2008–09, National Defence spending represented approximately one-fifth of total government direct program spending on an annual basis. These investments have strengthened the Canadian Forces and produced tangible results, as most recently demonstrated by the Afghanistan mission, support for relief efforts in Haiti, and the provision of security at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The Government remains committed to continuing to build the Canadian Forces into a first-class, modern military. However, as part of measures to restrain the growth in overall government spending and return to budget balance in the medium term, the Government will slow the rate of previously planned growth in the National Defence budget. Budget 2010 reduces growth in National Defence’s budget by $525 million in 2012–13 and $1 billion annually beginning in 2013–14. Defence spending will continue to grow but more slowly than previously planned (Chart 4.1.2).

By implementing this measure beginning in 2012–13, the Government will ensure that it does not adversely affect military operations during the current Afghanistan mission, and that National Defence has sufficient time to adjust its long-term expenditure plans. The Government is confident that the long-term objectives of the Canada First Defence Strategy can be achieved and that the Canadian Forces will continue to fully meet its three key roles: defending Canada, defending North America and contributing to international peace and security [no specific mention of the Arctic or North].

National Defence has already begun work on a comprehensive strategic review to ensure its resources are fully aligned with the priorities set out in the Canada First Defence Strategy. This review will identify measures necessary to implement the Budget 2010 decision ....

BUDGET-2010-CF.pdf

2)

On CBC's "Power and Politics", 1706, minister Flaherty said the CF "will have to delay some of their acquisitions". Which? I'd think, for a start:

CCVs
A/OPs
And certainly no new fighter selection this year.

The conclusion of an earlier post:

...
The key thing to watch for future budgets is the 2.7% promised ongoing annual increase--and even that is hardly what it seems. From a 2009 CDA piece by Col. [(ret'd) Brian] MacDonald:

...
The Canada First Defence Strategy Budget

2008 also saw the tabling of the Canada First Defence Strategy (CFDS). An unusual aspect of the CFDS was the inclusion of a long-range funding formula which had three key elements. First, was a promise of 2.7% “Nominal” growth, which includes an expected inflation factor of 2.1%, and therefore 0.6% “Real” growth in the defence budget...

More on our government's future, meagre, defence budget plans here, here, here and here. Remember that our defence spending is only some 1.2% of GDP--and is likely to go quite a bit lower as a percentage. Crunch, crunch, crunch.

See this also from Col. MacDonald:

Waiting for Defence Budget 2010/11:
Second of the Canada First Defence Strategy Budgets

Note that the chart on p.2 shows that total defence spending in FYs 2010/11 and 2011/12 was in fact already scheduled to start declining.