By Dr. Ann Griffiths, 19 May 2025
David Joseph McGuinty is now the Minister of National Defence. He is a lawyer and has served as the member of Parliament for Ottawa South since 2004. With a new[ish] government and an unknown Minister, what would we want to see from him in terms of the navy? The defence portfolio is a big one, with multiple challenges. Canada is lagging on its NATO defence spending commitments, despite agreeing to them. If Canada wants to keep its reputation as a committed member of NATO, it needs to start with action, not promises that some time in the distant mists of the future something will happen. Ships like the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships that were planned for a peaceful world, are now seriously underwhelming for a more hostile world. Governments have procrastinated for years on updating naval capabilities, which means that everything needs replacing. Better planning would have ensured a steady stream of new ships entering the fleet, not a situation in which the frigates, supply ships, coastal defence vessels and submarines all need replacement at once. If the current plans proceed – and even that is uncertain – the navy will have to continue deploying the frigates for many years beyond their service life while we wait for the River-class destroyers to be built. New recruits to the navy shouldn’t be expected to serve in ships that decades older than they are.
Canada has long been reliant on the United States for many naval systems, including communications, weapons and armaments, and now we’re in a situation where the partner we have relied on for so long is no longer reliable. Indeed, Canada may now have to consider how to defend itself not alongside the United States, but against the United States.
I would want to see the new Minister take action. I would want decisions to be made. Purchase some capable smaller ships that are built offshore if necessary to get them in the fleet. Make a decision on submarines and get started on them. Make decisions and take action. If there is strong commitment at the ministerial level, the glacial pace of the procurement system might be sped up.
Image: A photo of Minister McGuinty as posted on the Cabinet's website in May 2025. Credit: Government of Canada
8 thoughts on “New Minister of National Defence”
The Canadian Navy, the military as a whole is an embarrassment and a joke. As I’m a Canadian I wouldn’t want my children to serve in this embarrassing military. Maybe quit buying tampon machines in men’s washrooms.
Such a thoughtful, helpful, and relevant comment!
I am sure that it will greatly contribute to the solution of Canada’s and the CAF’s urgent issues.
Ubique,
Les
Hello Ron. This is a Forum for ‘thoughtful’ discussions and solutions on all things Canadian military, and in particular the RCN and not a place for just ranting and raving with no insights into solutions to make the military more relevant in today’s uncertain times. For example, what are your thoughts on DTs ‘Golden Dome’ Plan on Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) and would you support Canada participating in the program as that would also affect the River Class Destroyers (RCDs) participating as well along with CEC?
Why, beyond embarrassment, has a schedule for decommissioning the Halifax frigates not been released? I’m am not a naval expert, however it’s difficult to imagine retaining a number of capable combat ships beyond what can be counted fingers on one hand in the mid to late 30’s. Despite all the usual arguments, securing half a dozen second tier ships, “Vigilance” class “corvettes” or off shore built frigates seems necessary. This all seems to have been foreseeable and avoidable.
Hi Wayne I agree. I don’t know about publishing a schedule for Halifax retirement so much as River commissioning. On the Type 26 I put out a timeline. The Halifax’s are going to be in rough shape going on 10 yrs from now. I don’t know if Vigilance is the solution. A small run of direct Halifax replacements seems in order
Canada can ill-afford an ingrained attitude amongst the population and the political elite class on both sides of aisle, the continued politicization of military purchases for cheap political points. We have suffered as a nation and our members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families have suffered greatly for this and it has to end and now. This disconcerting Canadian attitude has put the very existence of our liberal democratic society and nation at risk. If we as a nation cannot afford to defend this country then we as a nation also cannot afford our universal health, dental care, $10/day day care and perhaps many of the other gold plated social safety nets that we as a country enjoy but throw in the faces of our allies as an example of the societal liberal benefits of living in The True North Strong and Free. What should be considered, because of what has been allowed to occur over numerous decades of political failure and abuse, is to constitutionally protect the assurance of a minimal standard of age, reliability and relevance of all military equipment be it air, ground or sea assets, ground troop, naval and air personnel. The politicization of the CAF monetary and HR supports must be taken out of the hands of the politicians in Ottawa and firmly into the hands of the Constitution and the Court if necessary if military preparedness is not upheld and defended from a Notwithstanding argument. Governments and individuals must be held to account and held responsible. This mess is as much an individual responsibility as it is a political one that we all must share. We as individual citizens have let this country down. We have, as a nation, thrown ourselves into a state of grave national risk as a direct result of this grotesque societal failure and it must end.
Hello William. Could not agree more with all of your comments. We (as Canadians) all have to share in the responsibility of what we all have done (or not done), to move our military into the 21st Century. It is past-time we get off our ‘high-horse’ and truly support the CAF that we all have let down so often in favour of our own domestic benefits & get on with the job of fully supporting the Canadian heroes that have sacrificed so much for all of us and the True North Strong and Free!
Good afternoon William,
As I understand your comment: responsibility and authority for the state of the Canadian Armed Forces is to be removed from both:
– Canada’s democratically elected government and parliament; and
– The Canadian citizens who choose those who govern our country.
In lieu of such democracy, you wish to have the Constitution decide key issues of military equipment stocks – and the related matters of doctrine, strategy, tactics, and personnel levels and policies.
My question for you is: who will get to decide what the Constitution mandates for these matters? Whoever that person is will hold immense power both in the present and far into the future. The scope for abuse and the calcification of military developments in Canada is extraordinary.
Ubique,
Les