In 2004 Stephen Harper pledged to rebuild Canada’s military after what he called years of Liberal neglect. After eight years of Conservative (mis)management, Canada’s forces are still stuck with temperamental submarines, an obsolete fleet of Sea King helicopters, a recently cancelled program to buy armoured vehicles, a ship-building program that is gravely over budget and behind schedule, and an inoperable 44-year-old naval supply ship in Hawaii.
In spite of all these unresolved military snafus, Conservative party strategists believe a well-funded re-election campaign will be able to convince Canadians that ‘Captain’ Harper is running a tight ship. His motley crew is as befuddled as a gang of bleary-eyed sailors on shore leave.
Lloyd Atkins