Macfarlane: What will be the impact of the $1.1 billion cut to National Defence?
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Waterloo
Marginal. National Defence has benefited from significant new expenditures
over the past decade, increases that far outweigh the trimming announced
in the 2012 budget. The cuts will not affect core capabilities, nor will
there be a reduction in the size of the Forces. Readiness may be a
concern, given that we are likely to see deferrals in the purchase of new
equipment. Even that concern, however, is offset by the fact that our
commitment in Afghanistan has all but ended.