OTTAWA — The military’s former top soldier says there is a risk the United States will step in to defend the Canadian Arctic under the pretext Canada isn’t up for the job — one reason that he argues the federal government must maintain increases in military spending, even if it means sacrificing social programs.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Star on Tuesday, retired Gen. Wayne Eyre said Canada must, by showing it is capable of protecting the North, defend against “help” that would violate the country’s sovereignty over the vast region. While multibillion-dollar plans to do that are in the works, including through the construction of new over-the-horizon radar stations, icebreaker ships and military support hubs in the Arctic, “speed of execution” is now key, Eyre said.
