If you don’t live near an ocean – and most Canadians don’t – you could live your whole life without ever seeing a warship. So why, you may ask yourself, does Canada need a navy? There are many reasons. Navies play three general roles – diplomacy, constabulary and defence. Canada has oceans on three of four of its borders, and as a trading state, any trade that doesn’t go to our one land neighbour, must travel by the oceans. Who ensures that trade flows smoothly on the oceans? With friends and allies, the Royal Canadian Navy helps ensure that all trade, not just that destined for Canada, can move without disruption.
Navies provide the government with an extremely useful and flexible instrument of policy. In addition to conducting goodwill visits, the same ship can be tasked for disaster relief, counter-piracy/counter-narcotic/counter-terrorism operations, protection of shipping, search and rescue at sea - and, of course, fighting wars. The Royal Canadian Navy is not big, but it is asked to do big things.
For a 3-page explanation of why Canada needs a navy, see the Naval Association of Canada Briefing Note #3, “Why Canada Needs a Navy.” https://www.navalassoc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BN3-whyneednavy-2.pdf
One thought on “Why does Canada Need a Navy?”
Canada’s Naval Fleet requires more than 15 War Ships. Why? As we all know that Canada is a Maritime Country which has 3 Oceans on our Borders? This requires 6 ships per ocean, 6 x 3 = 18 Ships? there has to be ships at sea at all times, 2 ships leave port, 60 days later 2 more leave port there is now 4 ships at sea? 120 days later these first 2 ships are on their way back home that is to say they will be in port on the 120th day, and the next 2 ships will be on duty of their first day of their 120 day tour of duty. This is why we need 18 warships not 15
Thanks
Roderick