Canadian Military Spending: 2004

Our allies in the WOT are going to be rocked back on their heels by the military spending increases in today's 2004 budget.

An additional $250 million over two years for peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism.

$50 million for the peacekeeping force in Haiti.

That'll have them sucking in their breath.

Exemption from tax of the income earned by Canadian Forces personnel and police while serving on high-risk international missions.

Woo-hoo! and all this time they were thinking helicoptors! new ships! eh... bullets?

"An additional $605 million over five years for the security contingency reserve."

"Reserve" means that it doesn't get spent unless the Peace Tower comes crashing down.

Building on the 8-per-cent increase for 2004-05, an additional $248 million for international assistance, or an 8-per-cent increase, for 2005-06.

Something tells me this doesn't mean rounding up the 36,000 missing deportees in the country.

update - others are noticing.

added to the Snark Hunt

Posted by Kate at March 23, 2004 10:26 PM