Investing in our Canadian Forces

April 21, 2008

Canadians are proud of the brave men and women of our Canadian Forces, and rightly so.

Through their courageous and selfless service, our Canadian Forces have secured Canada’s position on the world stage. A strong, confident Canada requires a strong, robust and healthy Canadian Forces.

Thanks to strong leadership and new investment from Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Government, our Canadian Forces are receiving the increased support and investment they dearly deserve.

The Conservative Government has increased funding to our men and women in uniform each year since our Government took office. Today, our Canadian Forces are benefiting from new investments in equipment ranging from boots to helicopters, to ships and satellite surveillance.

Through this new support, members of our Canadian Forces are not only protecting our sovereignty at home, they can also be more help to those living in dangerous and unstable regions around the world. The renewed success and esteem of the Canadian Forces is evident in the increased numbers of bright, dedicated and enthusiastic young Canadians who want to make a difference by joining the Forces and serving their country.

Canada has come a long way. During the Liberal government’s decade of darkness, the Canadian Forces were stripped of funding and support by the Liberals. Instead of being respected for their sacrifice, our brave men and women were brushed aside as an afterthought. Instead of standing up for Canadian sovereignty, the Liberals were fixated on their burdensome record of scandals and incompetence.

Even today, when the world needs a strong Canada more than ever, the Stéphane Dion Liberals remains directionless, with no policy, no plans, and no new solutions or ideas for our country. Instead, the Liberals continue to be fixated on politics, abandoning the role of Official Opposition in favour of chasing headlines and manufacturing outrage. This is the kind of behaviour Canadians expect from fringe parties far outside the mainstream. It is certainly not what they expect from a credible government-in-waiting.

Today, Canada is back and, with more new investments for our Canadian Forces on the way, the future looks brighter than ever. Canada's military families deserve better than a return to the Liberal decade of darkness. Instead they are right to expect the kind of strong support and real respect they are receiving from the Conservative Government.