US embassy cable - 05OTTAWA637

S E C R E T OTTAWA 000637 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
FOR SECRETARY RICE FROM AMBASSADOR CELLUCCI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2015 
TAGS: MARR, MCAP, PARM, PREL, CA, Alex Himelfarb, LTG Hillier, Missile Defense 
SUBJECT: GOC AT PAINS TO DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO SECURITY 
PARTNERSHIP 
 
REF: OTTAWA 00572 
 
Classified By: Amb Paul Cellucci for Reasons 1.4 (A) (B) and (D). 
 
1. (S/NF)  Privy Council Clerk Alex Himelfarb contacted me on 
February 28 to stress yet again his concern that the 
government,s good-faith effort to beef up its defense 
capabilities will get lost in the reporting on the poorly 
managed missile defense decision.  First Himelfarb, then the 
PM,s Chief of Staff, Tim Murphy, and finally Prime Minister 
Martin called me last Wednesday (Feb. 23) about missile 
defense; all went to great lengths to elaborate on the C$ 
12.8 billion increase in defense spending and to reaffirm 
this government,s determination and desire to stand with us 
in every other way they could, despite the minority status of 
the government. 
 
2. (S/NF)  On the day he was to appear before the commission 
investigating the sponsorship scandal, Himelfarb still found 
it necessary to give me a preview of the defense policy 
review.  He was concerned that the conversation remain 
&close hold,8 as Parliament had not yet been briefed on the 
defense policy review and it would cause big political 
trouble if word got out that the government had discussed the 
review outside of Canadian circles.   Re-emphasizing the 
&seriousness8 of Canada,s proposed defense expenditure 
increases, Himelfarb laid out the premises of the defense 
policy review as it was reflected in the spending figures. 
He flagged the following spending priorities: 
 
-- new forces of 5000 personnel and 3000 reserve; enhancement 
of Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) capabilities, 
greater funding for the Coast Guard, more for signals 
intelligence, more for JTF-2 special forces; 
-- an expeditionary contingency task force ready to deploy 
anywhere in the world within 10 days; 
-- medium/heavy lift helicopters; 
-- marine vessel acquisitions, and acquisitions for domestic, 
in-theater and global airlift capacity. 
 
3. (S/NF)  Himelfarb noted that the review highlights its 
commitment to North America defense.   The government will 
set up a Canada Command (like our own NorthCom) with a 
counterterrorism emphasis.  In this document, Martin wants to 
stress the indivisibility of North America security and 
Canada,s willingness to put up its share for it.  The review 
will also stress commitment to institutions of North America 
defense, specifically mentioning PJBD and the Binational 
Planning Group.  The government really wants to move forward 
on NORAD renewal and is still very concerned about 
information sharing.  Outside of North America, they will 
focus on regional hot spots such as Haiti, Sudan, Middle 
East. 
 
4. (S/NF) Incoming Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick 
Hillier, told me that this long-delayed review would likely 
come out before the end of March, citing the imperative that 
with the BMD decision they move quickly on defense matters. 
He was very pleased with the new funding, even though much of 
it was loaded in the out-years.  Deputy Minister of Defence 
Ward Elcock said they could not front load the budget 
increases since they could not absorb that kind of 
procurement funding so quickly.  But those decisions will be 
taken now, locked in through contract, and paid for in the 
ensuing years. 
 
4. (S/NF) Comment ) Conversations prior to last week,s 
missile defense decision indicated the Canadians knew there 
would be consequences from such a decision, not a planned 
retribution, but at the very least fallout in attitudes and 
perceptions towards Canada.  They hope that these new budget 
priorities in defense will help to reassure us of their 
commitment to the military partnership.  The fact is, no 
matter how badly they handled this missile decision (leading 
us to believe repeatedly that they would be with us,) the 
increased defense commitments are good news and in our 
interests.  End comment 
 
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa 
 
CELLUCCI