Charlie Foxtrot: Fixing Defence Procurement in Canada

by Kim Richard Nossal

Defence expert Kim Richard Nossal presents a damning indictment of defence procurement in Canada, and shows how to fix it.



Defence procurement in Canada is a mess. New equipment is desperately needed for the Canadian Armed Forces, but most projects are behind schedule, over budget, or both. Not only has mismanagement cost Canadian taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, it has also deprived Canada and the CAF of much-needed military capacity.



Successive governments — both Liberal and Conservative — have managed the complexities of defence procurement so poorly that it will take years before the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Canadian Army regain the capabilities they need. While new prime ministers invariably come to power promising to fix problems inherited from their predecessors, getting it right has remained frustratingly elusive.



Charlie Foxtrot offers a fresh take on this important policy issue. It shows why governments have found it so difficult to equip the CAF efficiently, and offers a set of political prescriptions for fixing defence procurement in Canada.

Genres: Canada, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Kim Richard Nossal is professor emeritus in the Centre for International and Defence Policy and the Department of Political Studies, Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a former president of the Canadian Political Science Association. He is also a former editor of International Journal, the quarterly journal of the Canadian International Council. He has published a number of books and scholarly articles on Canadian foreign and defence policy.

Reviews

[Warren Lambie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An accurate, clear, and brief analysis of the flaws underlying Canadian defence procurement. The argument made by the author should also age well, as few of the underlying issues are likely to change.

[Jim Milway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is tight review of the weakness of Canada's defense procurement process with some outrageous examples going back to the Ross rifle in the First World War.It's maddening to see how governments of both stripes have been so dismissive of the public purse as they waste dollars on poorly conceived procurement approaches. Lately the deepening partisan divide has caused incoming governments to change course as they take the defense reins - for no good reason other than to show that there's a new driver in control.

Nossal's solutions are focused in two areas. First, in setting defense strategy we need to be better at making hard choices. Second, in our political systems, we need to foster a better sense of bi-parisanship within the constraints of our Westminster Parliamentary system.

Well written, logically flowing, and evenly critical this a solid contribution to Canada's political economy. His proposals are sound - and risk little political downside if taken up by our political leaders.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of Canada’s defence procurement spanning more than 100 years. Exceptionally timely thanks to the CSC + new fighter jet projects, and useful in providing context for students, analysts, and commentators alike. Appreciate how Nossal didn’t overdo his criticisms — all of them are well-grounded and legitimate.

[Noelle Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled to bursting with facts about Canadian defence procurement. It's laid out in such a way as to make it understandable to the average Canadian. Anyone who is interested in the topic would enjoy reading it.


*won as a GoodReads Giveaway*

[Neil MacEachern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for any current or former members of the CAF, or anyone interested in Canadian politics.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Studying Canadian military procurement is a niche subject within the niche subject of Canadian foreign and defence policy. However Professor Nossal lays out everything you needed to know about why Canada struggles to procure itself out of a paper bag.

What is so great about this book is how well it serves its purpose - although at first glance the subject may seem boring or too complex for such a short book, it brilliantly spells out the history and problems that confound our ability as a country to actually purchase the things our armed forces needs. Further, Nossal does an excellent job of spelling out both the immediate and long-term contextual issues that are preventing us from solving this issue quickly.

Nossal's solutions are going to be hard for politicians to swallow - he suggests that either the government raises taxes in order to afford the military that they always talks about having, or reducing our military to what we can reasonably afford, specializing in a few needed areas. Given how - frankly - cheap Canadians are when it comes to spending on foreign and defence policy, it seems that the later is the more realistic option, although Nossal never explicitly states this.

Finally, the book is well written with some great and funny lines thrown in what amounts to a very challenging situation. It is unmissable for any serious student of Canada's foreign and defence policy - especially as Canada looks to renew its peacekeeping traditions under Justin Trudeau.