Canada is fortifying a long-standing front in its ongoing battle with protectionist impulses in the United States: resurrecting the Second World War-era notion of the two continental allies working together to stockpile the arsenal of democracy.
Defence Minister Anita Anand and Economic Development Minister Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne are joining forces in the U.S. capital, selling the idea that Canada91裸聊视频檚 nascent critical minerals industry makes it an ideal partner in fortifying a North American defence industrial base.
The appearance last week of what U.S. officials say was a Chinese surveillance balloon travelling through the continent91裸聊视频檚 airspace drives home the importance of the two countries working together on national security, the pair said in an interview.
Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of the binational defence system known as Norad, acknowledged Monday that it wasn91裸聊视频檛 the first such balloon to enter U.S. airspace 91裸聊视频� and that previous incursions went undetected, exposing a 91裸聊视频渄omain awareness gap91裸聊视频� that needs closing.
91裸聊视频淢ost definitely, this incident demonstrates the need to invest in our continental defence, which is exactly what we91裸聊视频檙e doing,91裸聊视频� Anand said, citing the ongoing, $40-billion effort to upgrade a system military leaders have long insisted is desperately outdated.
There91裸聊视频檚 no evidence that any previous Chinese balloons spotted over the U.S. 91裸聊视频� at least four of them, reportedly, including three while Donald Trump was president and another since Joe Biden took over 91裸聊视频� entered Canadian airspace, she added.
91裸聊视频淲e will certainly ensure that our close relationship with the United States continues, in order to contribute to the overall protection and security of the North American continent.91裸聊视频�
Anand, who has been talking about Norad modernization since becoming defence minister in October 2021, offered few details on the timeline, except to say that work on infrastructure upgrades and state-of-the-art 91裸聊视频渙ver the horizon91裸聊视频� radar systems is already underway.
91裸聊视频淭hese are massive investments,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e will have more details to share soon on how various projects are moving forward.91裸聊视频�
It was in the superheated blast furnace of the Second World War, with both countries still reeling from the aftermath of the Great Depression and suddenly called upon to develop a collective war effort, that the modern-day industrial ties between Canada and the U.S. were forged.
Today, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the global push to back Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia 91裸聊视频攃ombined with the western world91裸聊视频檚 sudden scramble to end its dependence on China for semiconductors, critical minerals and rare earth metals 91裸聊视频� has created an ominous echo.
91裸聊视频淲hen you talk to CEOs around the world, they tell you that geopolitics is almost half of the talk they have at their board meetings now, because if you make the wrong pick, that could have devastating consequences,91裸聊视频� Champagne said.
91裸聊视频淎t a time where nations are striving to build resiliency in their supply chains, I think Canada and the United States stand out in the world with the most integrated supply chain.91裸聊视频�
The two ministers spoke just hours before Biden91裸聊视频檚 second state of the union address Tuesday evening, a raucous, combative speech that not only showcased America91裸聊视频檚 partisan divisions, but demonstrated that with a presidential election in the offing, the politics of protectionism are alive and well in the White House.
91裸聊视频淏uy American has been the law since 1933. But for too long, past administrations 91裸聊视频� Democrat and Republican 91裸聊视频� have fought to get around it. Not anymore,91裸聊视频� the president said to spirited applause.
He also promised new rules for federal infrastructure projects that would require all construction materials 91裸聊视频� not just iron and steel, but copper, aluminum, lumber, glass, drywall and fibre-optic cable 91裸聊视频� be made in the U.S.
91裸聊视频淥n my watch, American roads, American bridges and American highways will be made with American products.91裸聊视频�
That kind of rhetoric may be why, with Canada already enshrined as an important supplier to U.S. defence procurement, Ottawa is redoubling its focus on promoting bilateral military co-operation.
91裸聊视频淐anada has this vibrant ecosystem of suppliers (that) produce high-quality and reliable parts and components and systems and subsystems. And those systems all enable major weapons platforms,91裸聊视频� Anand said.
91裸聊视频淲e are at a time in the global economic environment where the demand for munitions and the demand for military equipment and supplies is vastly exceeding supply. We need to make sure that Canada is well-positioned to ensure that we can maintain these stable supply chains.91裸聊视频�
The two ministers will arrive in D.C. late Wednesday for meetings with major U.S. contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon and General Dynamics, and will also sit down with key lawmakers on Capitol Hill to remind them how much Canadian content already supports the American military.
On Friday, they91裸聊视频檒l take part in a panel discussion at the Wilson Center on fostering national security and economic prosperity.
91裸聊视频淭his is a time where 91裸聊视频� the aerospace and defence industry in particular need to look north,91裸聊视频� Champagne said.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going there to say, 91裸聊视频楲isten, this is an opportunity to team up together, to do more together, innovate more and sell more together.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2023.
James McCarten, The Canadian Press
