Slowdown in military spending growth could affect ship procurement: MacKay

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The slowdown in the growth of military spending announced in last week’s federal budget could affect the government’s procurement of new ships, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Sunday.

“We’re now trying to work out any difficulties that might exist in terms of the overall package of ships that we’re looking to procure,” MacKay told reporters in Port-au-Prince, after meeting with Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive.

As part of their plans to reduce the deficit, the Conservatives revealed in last Thursday’s budget that they expected to save $2.5 billion by slowing the rate of previously planned growth in the National Defence budget.

Other federal departments, meanwhile, will have their operating budgets frozen the year after next.

MacKay said procurement projects in which the Defence Department shares a stake with other departments, such as coast guard vessels, could be affected. The coast guard is part of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

“Our budget projects out some distance, and we have money specifically designated for a number of these projects, including shipbuilding, including our fixed wing search and rescue (aircraft),” the minister said.

“So the money is identified in our budget, What makes it a bit complicated, to be frank, for shipbuilding, is that we have another department, the department of Fisheries and Oceans, involved when it comes to coastal patrol vessels, and coast guard.”

Overall, however, MacKay was optimistic that the Canadian Forces will be able to get the equipment they need.

“I’m very satisfied that we’re improving our capabilities . . . We’re moving in the right direction, at that is up, in terms of budgetary allocation.”

MacKay finished a two-day trip to Haiti on Sunday in which he visited Canadian military operations in the earthquake-devastated country.

Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean will arrive in the Haitian capital on Monday for her own two-day trip, during which she will visit sites in the capital affected by the quake. The Governor General will also visit the towns of Leogane and Jacmel, where Canadian troops have focused their relief efforts.

Jean was born in Haiti, and her mother’s family hails from Jacmel.

“Overall, we have very good relations with Canada,” said Bellerive, the prime minister. “No matter what the visit, each one is a sign of Canada’s firm support for Haiti.”