Canada urged to join controversial U.S. missile shield
June 16, 2014
by David Pugliese and Robert Sibley
Canada should join the United States as a full and willing partner in developing a ballistic missile defence system, according to a report from the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence.
“The committee is unanimous in recommending that the government of Canada enter into an agreement with the United States to participate as a partner in ballistic missile defence,” the committee said in releasing the report Monday.
“The committee heard worrying testimony about the ongoing efforts of North Korea and Iran to acquire capabilities to deliver long-range, nuclear-armed ballistic missiles so as to threaten neighbouring countries, NATO and North America,” the committee, headed by Conservative Senator Daniel Lang, said in a summary of the report. Both nations have developed their missile technology “to the point where a threat has become a practical reality.”
According to a 2003 Canadian Department of National Defence report, the U.S. has spent more than $200 billion over a 50-year-period trying to come up with various forms of missile defence. The report, obtained by the Citizen under the Access to Information law, also pointed out that missile defence discussions over the years have had a Canadian component.
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