Pierre Poilievre’s Arctic Plan Is the Kind of Thinking Canada Needs Right Now
By Spencer Fernando, Exclusive to the National Citizens Coalition
It has been said: “There are decades where nothing happens and there are weeks where decades happen.”
Well, the decades seem to be rolling on by these past few weeks.
Much of the foundation upon which Canada’s sense of economic, military, and even psychological security is rapidly crumbling.
We may be rapidly shifting from being one of the world’s most well-defended countries – due to alliances we thought we could rely on – to being one of the world’s most vulnerable countries.
This vulnerability dramatically raises the stakes for Canada’s prospective leaders.
With Canada’s security and even our sovereignty potentially at risk, we need our politicians to put forth big and well-thought-out ideas to turn our short-term weakness into long-term strength.
And that’s what Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre did in his recent Arctic policy announcement.
As noted by the Conservatives, Canada faces threats from both Russia and China in our North:
“Hostile powers want our resources and shipping routes, and to be within striking distance of our continent. China has now declared itself a “near Arctic state,” even though its borders are approximately 1,500 kilometres from the Arctic Circle.
Russia also continues to build up its military presence in the North. Last year, the Department of National Defence noted that Russia now “possesses a robust Arctic naval presence with submarines, surface combatants and an icebreaker fleet much larger than those of other Arctic powers.” Russia has reopened Soviet military bases, expanded its Northern Fleet and developed new hypersonic missiles designed to evade NATO’s defences.”
To address these challenges, Poilievre is proposing some concrete policies, rather than just the empty words we often hear from those in power when discussing the rebuilding of our national defences.
Poilievre is calling for the doubling of the Canadian Rangers 1st Patrol Group, from 2,000 to 4,000, the acquiring of two additional polar icebreakers for the Royal Canadian Navy, delivering the two icebreakers currently under construction by a firm deadline of 2029, and the construction of “at least one” permanent Arctic military base within two years: CFB Iqaluit.
Real proposals with real deadlines.
Notably, this is only ‘Part 1’ of Poilievre’s plan for the Arctic, meaning we can expect more announcements to come.
This is the exact kind of thinking Canada needs right now.
Our country finds itself in the wilderness, much more alone and much more endangered than we ever thought we would be.
We can lament this state of affairs, and it is quite lamentable.
But that won’t get us anywhere.
When faced with danger and vulnerability, we have a choice between burying our heads in the sand or being spurred into action.
By proposing a military buildup in the North, Poilievre is choosing action.
Action also equates to hope, hope for Canada’s future.
Canada is a nation worth defending.
We have built a strong legacy of defending freedom and enabling millions of people from around the world to flourish and prosper.
We take care of one another.
We listen to one another.
And we built the greatest country on Earth.
Our current challenges – an economic lost decade, rising crime, unaffordable housing, and more – are real challenges, and they must be addressed.
Yet, those challenges don’t erase all that we’ve built as a nation.
They don’t erase the fact that we are still a nation of productive, patriotic, and intelligent people.
They don’t erase the fact that our potential prosperity is unlimited if we have the courage to unleash our economy.
And they don’t change the fact that – as we have done many times in the past – we can build a strong national defence if we put our minds to it.
In a dangerous world, Canada has what it takes to survive and thrive.
By embracing big ideas – ideas like Pierre Poilievre’s Arctic military buildup – our country will remain the true north strong and free for years, decades, and centuries to come.
Spencer Fernando is one of the most popular and prolific political voices in Canada. He is a writer and campaign fellow for the National Citizens Coalition. Join the mailing list to receive his exclusive weekly columns in your inbox.
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