RE: Do socialists deserve
Canadian armed forces under US command
Michael Byers
I.
INTRODUCTION
It has been revealed that negotiations are under way to place a substantial part of the
Canadian armed forces – land and sea forces as well as air – under the operational control
of a permanent, integrated, US-led command structure.
1
The announced creation of a
“Northern Command”, unifying the continental US into a single military command, is a
logical precursor to an expansion that would include Canada and Canadian forces.
2
As
well, the joining of the Northern Command with the US command of NORAD (North
American Aerospace Defence Command), while perfectly sensible, already draws Canada
partially into the new structure. And yet many complex and overlapping questions are
raised by the prospect of Canada engaging in closer military co-operation with its southern
neighbour, either within or outside the context of the Northern Command.
What implications might the development of a closer military relationship have for
Canadian sovereignty, for Canada’s claim to jurisdiction in the Arctic, and for Canada’s
ability to maintain an independent foreign policy? What effects might it have on military
expenditure, on Canada’s ability to participate in overseas peacekeeping, and on
bilingualism, gender and sexual equality in the armed forces? What about Canada’s
commitments under those treaties that the US has not ratified, including Protocol One
Additional to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the Ottawa Landmines Convention, and the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, some of which are, in addition, actively
opposed by the US?
At present, these questions have not been answered; indeed the details of the proposed
arrangement have not been released. In light of these uncertainties, this report canvasses
some of the possible issues with a view to generating discussion about a seemingly
imminent development that could reshape fundamental aspects of Canadian sovereignty,
identity and foreign policy.
The report consciously adopts a “worst-case-scenario” approach, on the theory that any
responsible debate on this matter must consider the range of possible eventualities. It goes
without saying that the military partnership between Canada and the US is one of the most
important in the world. Asking tough questions, proceeding cautiously on new initiatives
and protecting against negative consequences will help to ensure that the partnership
continues to operate to the benefit of both countries.
1
See: Paul Knox, “What does the Canadian military have to prove?” Globe and Mail, 9 January 2002, A9;
Paul Koring & Daniel Leblanc, “Canada aims to join ‘Americas Command’,” Globe and Mail, 29 January
2002, A1; Jeffrey Simpson, “What matters is defence integration, not the Eggleton sideshow,” Globe and
Mail, 2
