For immediate release - October 18, 2000

Auditor General report underscores need for accountability in Defence budget allocations

"Yesterday's Auditor General report reinforces the urgent need for a public review of Canadian Armed Forces policy to d evelop a new mandate," Carolyn Bassett, Acting Coordinator of the Canadian Peace Alliance, commented today. "Spending priorities for the department should be determined only after this new mandate is in place." The Canadian Peace Alliance, the largest umb rella organization of peace groups in Canada, has long called for such a review.

Parliament has not been provided with a full appraisal of the capability of the Canadian Forces, the Auditor General observed yesterday in his report.

The Canadian Peace Alliance is deeply concerned about the AG's revelation that the Government of Canada rejected the 1998 recommendation that the Department of National Defence provide Parliament with sufficient information on military capabilities, performances and resources for a better review of the Department's Estimates. The Government claimed that these recommendations were either impractical or unnecessary, since the information was already available.

Yet the Auditor General reported yesterday that none of the documents that the Department cited provided sufficient information for an adequate parliamentary assessment of the state of the Armed Forces. He criticized the "vaguely worded statements" offered by DND as insufficient to ensure parliamentary oversight of the pol icy and budget process.

The Auditor General report notes that despite the recent increase in defence spending, the Department of National Defence remains unable to fulfill its mandate. DND has had trouble making the "hard choices" and continues to demand a n additional $750 million annually, despite the special allocation of $2.3 billion between 1999 and 2003.

"It is time for a public debate on the merits of the doctrine of multi-purpose, combat-capable forces in all three military branches. We must conside r a new military model focused on certain core competencies, such as traditional peacekeeping," Bassett continued. "We will be pressing the Government to initiate such a review in the new year."

"The mandate of Canada's military hasn't been examined in more than six years, and it's high time for a public review," CPA Co-Chair Judith Berlyn said.

Peace activists have long argued that security cannot be equated with military capabilities. "It is long overdue for the Government of Canada to bring Canadian d efence policy into line with a broader vision of human security," Paul Klopstock, CPA Co-Chair.

"Canada can most effectively contribute to global security through increased overseas development aid, preventative diplomacy and humanitarian relief efforts, " Klopstock continued. "These are the areas to which our security money should be targeted. Security - in Canada and abroad - cannot be equated with military might. The mandate of the Canadian Armed Forces and the spending priorities of the Government of Canada must reflect these realities."

For more information contact: Carolyn Bassett, Acting Coordinator, Canadian Peace Alliance, (416) 588-5555.

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