Canada’s army is getting a makeover.
Driving the news: A leaked chart from the Canadian Forces detailed plans to create a Manoeuvre Division, one of three new divisions the Army has in the works. Per the document, it will include battalions and brigades specialized in combat and long-range firepower.
Examples include new tank battalions, battalions for rocket artillery, and Canada’s first drone battalion. Suffice it to say, it’s the division 12-year-olds will find the coolest.
The Canadian Forces confirmed that the document was authentic and taken from a presentation, though it didn’t confirm or deny whether these plans were finalized.
Catch-up: The Army announced the reorganization last year, emphasizing the need for a modern structure based on operational needs rather than geography like the current one. The other two new divisions will focus on home defence and infrastructure support.
Why it matters: Ottawa has dramatically boosted military spending, domestic defence manufacturing is getting a lift, and even enlistment has picked up. The next step in the defence push is to get the Army into fighting shape in case combat breaks out (either at home or abroad).
“[Canada’s army] could be able to fight on the same terms as a Russian adversary or even a Chinese adversary,” military expert Lee Windsor told the Globe and Mail of the plans in the chart, “with all the same kinds of long-range deep-strike capability.”
Our take: A reality where Canada’s army actually uses any of these capabilities is not one we’d like to see, as it would likely mean World War III or (gulp) a U.S. invasion. That said, we’ll abide by the mantra “better safe than sorry” when it comes to these matters.—QH
