Growing our military isn’t the answer

In response to Craig Wallace’s misguided opinion piece entitled, “Preparing for a hostile neighbour,” I agree that Canada may have a potentially hostile government right across our border if the Republicans take control of the White House in 2024. However, I couldn’t disagree more that the way to prepare for that possibility is to increase and improve our military power and equipment.

No amount of equipment or military personnel in a country our size could defend itself against the United States. On a very practical level, it is totally unrealistic.

The United States has no need to invade Canada to exercise more control because it already controls so much of what goes on here.

Most of our trade is with the United States, our two militaries are closely integrated, and they heavily influence our political process. Mining, car manufacturing, retailers, restaurant chains and steel makers are mostly American owned.

The amount of our economy owned by Canada is negligible. Anything spent on our military to oppose the United States is absurd.

On a deeper level, it keeps us locked into the mindset that preparing for war creates peace and security. This is a mindset that must change. We are capable of finding alternative ways of keeping not only our country, but the world, secure.

One of the first steps is to shift resources from military spending to spending on the things that make people feel secure: basic guaranteed income, shelter, food, clean air and water, a livable climate, freedom from discrimination and oppression.

By creating a country where our security lies not in increasing military power (which we aren’t capable of anyway) but in having everyone’s basic needs met, we show the world that Canada is one of the best countries in which to live.

Another step in this shift away from military spending is to increase spending on foreign aid, helping developing countries meet the basic needs of their citizens. When the world views Canada as a real leader that does not depend on military power, then we will have allies with whom we can co-operate and build greater opportunities for all.

This is not an easy shift in thinking or in action, and it may sound unrealistic in our current mindset. But, we have to start with a vision and we have to believe in change.

When conflicts arise, instead of reacting with ineffective military solutions, it’s time for non-violent resistance. Studies have shown that non-violent resistance is twice as likely to succeed than armed conflicts.

In an article published in the BBC Future on May 13, 2019, David Robson, senior journalist at BBC Future, writes: “Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard University, confirms that civil disobedience is not only the moral choice; it is also the most powerful way of shaping world politics — by a long way. Ultimately, she would like our history books to pay greater attention to nonviolent campaigns rather than concentrating so heavily on warfare. ‘So many of the histories that we tell one another focus on violence — and even if it is a total disaster, we still find a way to find victories within it,’ she says. Yet we tend to ignore the success of peaceful protest, she says.”

The shift from military responses to non-violent resistance is the way of the future for Canada given our vast geography and relatively small population.

It’s time for change that requires real strength, and results in real security for Canada and for the world.