Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05OTTAWA637
2005-03-01 18:27:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
GOC AT PAINS TO DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO SECURITY
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T OTTAWA 000637
SIPDIS
NOFORN
FOR SECRETARY RICE FROM AMBASSADOR CELLUCCI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2015
TAGS: MARR MCAP PARM PREL CA LTG
SUBJECT: GOC AT PAINS TO DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO SECURITY
PARTNERSHIP
REF: OTTAWA 00572
Classified By: Amb Paul Cellucci for Reasons 1.4 (A) (B) and (D).
S E C R E T OTTAWA 000637
SIPDIS
NOFORN
FOR SECRETARY RICE FROM AMBASSADOR CELLUCCI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2015
TAGS: MARR MCAP PARM PREL CA LTG
SUBJECT: GOC AT PAINS TO DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO SECURITY
PARTNERSHIP
REF: OTTAWA 00572
Classified By: Amb Paul Cellucci for Reasons 1.4 (A) (B) and (D).
1. (S/NF) Privy Council Clerk Alex Himelfarb contacted me on
February 28 to stress yet again his concern that the
government,s good-faith effort to beef up its defense
capabilities will get lost in the reporting on the poorly
managed missile defense decision. First Himelfarb, then the
PM,s Chief of Staff, Tim Murphy, and finally Prime Minister
Martin called me last Wednesday (Feb. 23) about missile
defense; all went to great lengths to elaborate on the C$
12.8 billion increase in defense spending and to reaffirm
this government,s determination and desire to stand with us
in every other way they could, despite the minority status of
the government.
2. (S/NF) On the day he was to appear before the commission
investigating the sponsorship scandal, Himelfarb still found
it necessary to give me a preview of the defense policy
review. He was concerned that the conversation remain
&close hold,8 as Parliament had not yet been briefed on the
defense policy review and it would cause big political
trouble if word got out that the government had discussed the
review outside of Canadian circles. Re-emphasizing the
&seriousness8 of Canada,s proposed defense expenditure
increases, Himelfarb laid out the premises of the defense
policy review as it was reflected in the spending figures.
He flagged the following spending priorities:
-- new forces of 5000 personnel and 3000 reserve; enhancement
of Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) capabilities,
greater funding for the Coast Guard, more for signals
intelligence, more for JTF-2 special forces;
-- an expeditionary contingency task force ready to deploy
anywhere in the world within 10 days;
-- medium/heavy lift helicopters;
-- marine vessel acquisitions, and acquisitions for domestic,
in-theater and global airlift capacity.
3. (S/NF) Himelfarb noted that the review highlights its
commitment to North America defense. The government will
set up a Canada Command (like our own NorthCom) with a
counterterrorism emphasis. In this document, Martin wants to
stress the indivisibility of North America security and
Canada,s willingness to put up its share for it. The review
will also stress commitment to institutions of North America
defense, specifically mentioning PJBD and the Binational
Planning Group. The government really wants to move forward
on NORAD renewal and is still very concerned about
information sharing. Outside of North America, they will
focus on regional hot spots such as Haiti, Sudan, Middle
East.
4. (S/NF) Incoming Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick
Hillier, told me that this long-delayed review would likely
come out before the end of March, citing the imperative that
with the BMD decision they move quickly on defense matters.
He was very pleased with the new funding, even though much of
it was loaded in the out-years. Deputy Minister of Defence
Ward Elcock said they could not front load the budget
increases since they could not absorb that kind of
procurement funding so quickly. But those decisions will be
taken now, locked in through contract, and paid for in the
ensuing years.
4. (S/NF) Comment ) Conversations prior to last week,s
missile defense decision indicated the Canadians knew there
would be consequences from such a decision, not a planned
retribution, but at the very least fallout in attitudes and
perceptions towards Canada. They hope that these new budget
priorities in defense will help to reassure us of their
commitment to the military partnership. The fact is, no
matter how badly they handled this missile decision (leading
us to believe repeatedly that they would be with us,) the
increased defense commitments are good news and in our
interests. End comment
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
CELLUCCI
SIPDIS
NOFORN
FOR SECRETARY RICE FROM AMBASSADOR CELLUCCI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2015
TAGS: MARR MCAP PARM PREL CA LTG
SUBJECT: GOC AT PAINS TO DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO SECURITY
PARTNERSHIP
REF: OTTAWA 00572
Classified By: Amb Paul Cellucci for Reasons 1.4 (A) (B) and (D).
1. (S/NF) Privy Council Clerk Alex Himelfarb contacted me on
February 28 to stress yet again his concern that the
government,s good-faith effort to beef up its defense
capabilities will get lost in the reporting on the poorly
managed missile defense decision. First Himelfarb, then the
PM,s Chief of Staff, Tim Murphy, and finally Prime Minister
Martin called me last Wednesday (Feb. 23) about missile
defense; all went to great lengths to elaborate on the C$
12.8 billion increase in defense spending and to reaffirm
this government,s determination and desire to stand with us
in every other way they could, despite the minority status of
the government.
2. (S/NF) On the day he was to appear before the commission
investigating the sponsorship scandal, Himelfarb still found
it necessary to give me a preview of the defense policy
review. He was concerned that the conversation remain
&close hold,8 as Parliament had not yet been briefed on the
defense policy review and it would cause big political
trouble if word got out that the government had discussed the
review outside of Canadian circles. Re-emphasizing the
&seriousness8 of Canada,s proposed defense expenditure
increases, Himelfarb laid out the premises of the defense
policy review as it was reflected in the spending figures.
He flagged the following spending priorities:
-- new forces of 5000 personnel and 3000 reserve; enhancement
of Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) capabilities,
greater funding for the Coast Guard, more for signals
intelligence, more for JTF-2 special forces;
-- an expeditionary contingency task force ready to deploy
anywhere in the world within 10 days;
-- medium/heavy lift helicopters;
-- marine vessel acquisitions, and acquisitions for domestic,
in-theater and global airlift capacity.
3. (S/NF) Himelfarb noted that the review highlights its
commitment to North America defense. The government will
set up a Canada Command (like our own NorthCom) with a
counterterrorism emphasis. In this document, Martin wants to
stress the indivisibility of North America security and
Canada,s willingness to put up its share for it. The review
will also stress commitment to institutions of North America
defense, specifically mentioning PJBD and the Binational
Planning Group. The government really wants to move forward
on NORAD renewal and is still very concerned about
information sharing. Outside of North America, they will
focus on regional hot spots such as Haiti, Sudan, Middle
East.
4. (S/NF) Incoming Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick
Hillier, told me that this long-delayed review would likely
come out before the end of March, citing the imperative that
with the BMD decision they move quickly on defense matters.
He was very pleased with the new funding, even though much of
it was loaded in the out-years. Deputy Minister of Defence
Ward Elcock said they could not front load the budget
increases since they could not absorb that kind of
procurement funding so quickly. But those decisions will be
taken now, locked in through contract, and paid for in the
ensuing years.
4. (S/NF) Comment ) Conversations prior to last week,s
missile defense decision indicated the Canadians knew there
would be consequences from such a decision, not a planned
retribution, but at the very least fallout in attitudes and
perceptions towards Canada. They hope that these new budget
priorities in defense will help to reassure us of their
commitment to the military partnership. The fact is, no
matter how badly they handled this missile decision (leading
us to believe repeatedly that they would be with us,) the
increased defense commitments are good news and in our
interests. End comment
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
CELLUCCI