By Dan Middlemiss, 14 March 2023
Addressing a major defence conference last week, retired Vice-Admiral Mark Norman decried the failure of all Canadians to take their own defence seriously. Here are a few excerpts from his presentation (found at https://globalnews.ca/news/9545028/canada-national-security-mark-norman/):
“We are not taking defence and security seriously in this country and our way of life is in jeopardy as a result.”
“I genuinely believe that the global security situation has fundamentally changed in the past few years, and the complacency and attendant “risk management” approaches to defence and security matters implemented by successive governments – of all political orientations – have severely undermined not only our credibility as a nation, but more importantly, our national security.... Canada ... is no longer immune to events on the other side of the world and nor is our way of life guaranteed simply because of our proximity to the United States or our relative wealth or advantage as a nation.”
“Finally, the politicization of security and defence is irresponsible, dangerous and must stop immediately. These vital national interests are too important to be subject to the whims of short-term political interests and public opinion.”
“The primary responsibility of any government is to protect its people, their way of life, and the institutions that serve them. It is long overdue that national security and defence were raised above the noise and distraction of politics and placed at the pinnacle of our national priorities.”
As a former Minister of National Defence succinctly put in his introduction to the 1994 White Paper on Defence, “The primary obligation of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces is to protect the country and its citizens from challenges to their security. In the final analysis, a nation not worth defending is a nation not worth preserving.”
5 thoughts on “More Plain Speaking from Vice-Admiral (ret’d) Mark Norman”
Hello Dan. I have read Global News’ Roy Green’s article from retired Vice-Admiral Mark Norman’s comments with great interest. Whenever Mark Norman speaks he seems to make more and more sense every time I read his plain speaking thoughts in any article. He has my vote anyway for whatever lies in store for him for the future. Imagine that; someone with refreshing ideas and a head on his shoulders to boot! Canada could use more Mark Normans in the world!
That is one viewpoint, to which you are fully entitled
Hello,
“The primary responsibility of any government is to protect its people, their way of life, and the institutions that serve them.”
Agreed.
Regretably, our governments, at all levels, have done the opposite. Our quality of life has been on a downward trend over the past few decades. Housing has become speculative, with prices being gambled out of reach for most Canadians. Property values are inflated constantly by banks and real estate brokers to the point where they account for 12% of our GDP. Municipal Councils cry crocodile tears about affordable housing while the property taxes and land transfer taxes keep getting inflated. Health care is disappearing, the good jobs are gone, almost everything we use and consume comes from abroad. Even our flags and Canadian souvenirs are made in Asia. This is not the doing of China or North Korea or Iran or Russia or whatever fashionable rogue state that “hates our freedom”. It is the doing of our leadership. Defense capability is a direct expression of national strength and national health. So if our armed forces want to get all strong and shiny again, and protect all the good stuff we had, by all means, protect! But take the comfie blinders off and look in the right direction. The enemy of Canadians is not on the other side of the planet as the good Vice Admiral (retired) suggests.
Sometimes the plain-speaking truth is hard to take for most politicians and things seem to be rapidly going downhill here in the great Canadian north. But don’t despair Canada! Take a look at what’s left here and then take a good look at our friends and neighbours to the south of us and then decide if it’s still worth it! I for one am more of an optimist than a pessimist (although the two seem to be a bit ‘blurred’ lately) and … “the sun will come out tomorrow”! Cheers everyone!
Hard not to disagree with him