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Expand Rangers, Tory defence critic says

"...one of the prime instruments in enforcing our sovereignty"

JIM BELL

Gordon O'Connor, the MP who speaks for the Conservatives on defence matters, says his party would spend more on the Canadian Rangers if they form the next government. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)

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Gordon O'Connor, the Conservative Party of Canada's critic for national defence, says that, if elected, his party would expand the Canadian Rangers as part of its plan to strengthen Canada's sovereignty claims in the Arctic.

"I look on the Rangers as one of the prime instruments in enforcing our sovereignty," O'Connor said.

O'Connor, a retired brigadier-general who now represents the Ottawa Valley riding of Carleton-Mississippi Mills in the House of Commons, wrapped up a week-long "fact-finding tour" of the three northern territories in Iqaluit this past Friday.

He said he talked to several members of Ranger patrols during his trip, and they told him that they want better equipment, more training, and more work.

"Patrols have to increase in frequency. As I understand it, the current 4,000 Rangers are capable of doing more patrols, but there just isn't enough money," O'Connor said.

He also said the Canadian Rangers need a new rifle, because it's now hard to find spare parts for their current weapon, the venerable Lee Enfield .303 No. 4, whose design dates back to the Second World War.

There are 58 Canadian Ranger patrols, each with at least eight members, in northern Canada's "patrol group 1," which covers Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and the northern parts of the four western provinces.

O'Connor said the Rangers are needed more than ever before because of the dilapidated condition of the regular army, caused by years of financial neglect.

"Right now the regular army has little capability of moving in the North. There are very few regular soldiers that are trained in northern operations. This was not the case 20 or 30 years ago, when we had large numbers of troops that could operate in the North," O'Connor said.

He says the Conservative party's defence policies emphasize a "Canada first" approach, concentrating on sovereignty and security at home.

He said that Project Epsilon, a 24-hour satellite surveillance scheme now being developed by the Department of National Defence is a "good idea."

But he also said that a "Canada First" approach would also involve the purchase of double-hulled vessels by the navy for northern operations, and better patrol aircraft.

Canada has a fleet of 18 Aurora patrol aircraft, but O'Connor said only five are able to fly right now - the rest are off in factories being upgraded.

"What you're seeing now is the results of years and years of underfunding," O'Connor said.

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