Canada may have a defence procurement strategy in name but not in substance. The procurement arm of government has been so wittled down over the years that it is in a state of disarray.
Added to which successive budget delays of "projects" has created a bow wave of work for which the department charged with the work is incapable. Successive governments both Liberal and Conservative have been
partly to the Canadian defence disaster in the making.
What is so clearly evident is there is no sense of urgency with respect to the defence gaps emerging from years of neglect and political negligence. Canada is competing in time with its potential adversaires.
The Mandate Letter for the Minister responsible for procurement:
Work with the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development to launch an open and transparent competition to replace the CF-18 fighter aircraft, focusing on options that match Canada’s defence needs.
Prioritize the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy to support renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and to ensure the Royal Canadian Navy is able to operate as a true blue-water maritime force.
Modernize procurement practices so that they are simpler, less administratively burdensome, deploy modern comptrollership, and include practices that support our economic policy goals, including green and social procurement.
This Mandate letter was followed up by a budget at page 204 that lays waste to this charade. It is a classic "hockey stick" forecast of spending that doesn't happen as attrition takes its toll of capability.
If the Defence Procurement mess is not cleared by the next budget then look for another easy out for Finance on the Defence debacle.
