Harper accused of lowballing costs
Price tag for military proposals would be three times higher, federal defence minister charges
Gordon Kent, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Tuesday, January 10, 2006
EDMONTON - Defence Minister Bill Graham criticized Conservative Leader Stephen Harper Monday for "playing politics" by repeatedly releasing promises of increased military spending during the election campaign.
Harper's plans include three armed heavy icebreakers to protect the Arctic, new ships for Canada's Pacific fleet and stationing 100 regular troops for emergency response in each of four Western cities.
But Graham insisted during an Edmonton campaign stop that Liberals have worked out what's needed by the Canadian Armed Forces with military leaders. The Liberal government vowed in its 2005 budget to boost defence spending by nearly $13 billion over five years, he told reporters at the office of Edmonton-St. Albert Liberal candidate Stanley Haroun.
Among other items, this will cover 8,000 extra personnel and new helicopters, ships and vehicles, he said.
The government is also spending $80 million on armour and other equipment for the 2,000 troops due in Kandahar, Afghanistan, by February.
"We're transforming our forces to enable them to be the most effective they have been in generations," Graham said. "I believe the Liberal plan is backed by the military themselves, who chose this plan. We don't want to make it a political football."
He accused Harper of lowballing the cost of his proposals, saying his announced price tag of $5.3 billion over five years is one-third the actual expense.
"Let's be reasonable. Let's do what the Forces need to make them effective for Canada and not play politics."
The North needs money for environmental and social programs, and it isn't necessary to pump billions of dollars into Arctic defence when the region doesn't face a military threat, Graham said.
While there are concerns about Canada's sovereignty over the North, these can be handled in other ways, such as increased surveillance, he said.
Graham is only the second cabinet minister from outside Alberta to visit Edmonton during the campaign, following Environment Minister Stephane Dion. Prime Minister Paul Martin has not made an Edmonton appearance so far.
Although recent polls have put the Conservatives ahead of the Liberals, Graham argued his party went through a similar sag in 2004.
"My recollection ... was we had a substantial challenge in the middle of the last election, not unlike this, and we came back under the leadership of Mr. Martin."
