Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada's military should be better equipped: Joly

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Mar, 2022 02:54 PM
  • Canada's military should be better equipped: Joly

The Canadian Armed Forces should be better equipped to face new challenges in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said on Friday.

Speaking at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Joly said there are new challenges on the world stage after Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to start a war against Ukraine. 

"It is important for our military to be better equipped. It is important because the world has changed. And we need to be able to face the new challenges," she said. 

"We take stock of what Germany has done, which has increased its military and defense budget. And in that sense, I think that we need to work with the Armed Forces to make sure we are ready."

 Joly added that NATO and Canada are ready to face any further Russian aggression. 

"NATO has been making sure that we've reinforced the eastern flank," she said. "Canada has stepped up to the plate to make sure that we would be providing more forces and obviously this is a top priority for government."

 Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has hinted that more money may be coming for the military in the upcoming federal budget. 

Among NATO allies, the goal is to make defence spending equal to two per cent of the size of domestic economies. The latest figures from the alliance put Canada's defence spending at 1.39 per cent of the country's gross domestic product in 2021.

 The Russian invasion of Ukraine has unified western nations like never before and strengthened NATO’s alliance, Joly said, adding that "there’s nothing like having one villain" to unite against.

 "President (Vladimir) Putin sought to divide the West and exploit our differences, but we are more united than ever," she said. 

Canada is working with its allies in the G7 and NATO to send military equipment to Ukraine, Joly said. 

"It's important for ... Ukrainians to be able to defend themselves and to stop the bombing of civilians, but also it has an impact on the diplomatic side, because it is a way for Ukraine to be stronger at the negotiation table," she said.

 Joly reiterated that the federal government is willing to bring in unlimited numbers of Ukrainian refugees and officials are looking at possible airlifts from neighbouring European countries to bring individuals to Canada.

 Canada is also helping eastern European countries hosting Ukrainian refugees, including Moldova, Romania and Poland, through its funding to the United Nations' agencies that are helping the refugees, Joly said.

 "We've provided $200 million in terms of humanitarian aid. We're working with the UN, and its different agencies, including the UNHCR," she said. "Particular interest and support should be given to Moldova because it's one of the poorest countries of Europe."

 More than 3.5 million people have fled Ukraine so far during the 23-day Russian invasion.

MORE National ARTICLES

Anti-lockdown MPP to run for Tory leadership

Anti-lockdown MPP to run for Tory leadership
Roman Baber will launch his campaign Wednesday evening, and says he considers himself to be the underdog in the party's contest, competing against well-known federal Conservatives like Pierre Poilievre and Leslyn Lewis. Former Quebec premier Jean Charest is also planning to enter the race Thursday.    

Anti-lockdown MPP to run for Tory leadership

Biden's billion-dollar cleanup pledge puts Great Lakes back in environment limelight

Biden's billion-dollar cleanup pledge puts Great Lakes back in environment limelight
More than three decades later, North America's single largest source of freshwater is back in the public spotlight, this time for seemingly all the right reasons — thanks, at least in part, to the political woes of a certain U.S. president.

Biden's billion-dollar cleanup pledge puts Great Lakes back in environment limelight

Trudeau calls for recommitment to democracy

Trudeau calls for recommitment to democracy
Canada previously said it was shipping non-lethal equipment such as body vests and helmets, as well as more than $10 million in weapons such as machine-guns, rocket launchers and hand grenades. Trudeau acknowledged getting the equipment into Ukraine has not been easy.    

Trudeau calls for recommitment to democracy

B.C. coroner to release report on overdose deaths

B.C. coroner to release report on overdose deaths
A statement from the coroner's office says the panel reviewed 6,000 deaths from toxic illicit drugs between 2017 and 2021. There were 2,224 suspected overdose deaths in the province last year, which was a 26 per cent jump over the previous year.

B.C. coroner to release report on overdose deaths

254 COVID19 cases for Tuesday

254 COVID19 cases for Tuesday
There are 419 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 63 are in intensive care. In the past 24 hours, one new death (Fraser Health) has been reported, for an overall total of 2,915.    

254 COVID19 cases for Tuesday

More work needed to prevent fraud: B.C. auditor

More work needed to prevent fraud: B.C. auditor
Michael Pickup says in a news release that fraud risk management in the province is decentralized and shared by ministries as well as the Office of the Comptroller General, which provides oversight and support.

More work needed to prevent fraud: B.C. auditor