DISMANTLING CANADA’S DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE: A UTOPIAN POSSIBILITY?

Does Canada really need a Department of Defense? Defense from whom, exactly? Who’s knocking at Canada’s borders? Is the U.S. suddenly scheming to storm across the 49th parallel? Are the Russians preparing to trek through the Arctic tundra? Perhaps a European fleet could make a surprise landing on the Atlantic coast, or Japan might decide to commandeer the Pacific?

It’s not as if countries are storming each other’s borders like they did in the past. That era of land-grabbing wars largely ended with World War II, almost eight decades ago. Today, ideological expansionism—whether Left or Right—doesn’t require soldiers; it’s often driven by trade agreements, digital influence, and other non-combative channels.

Yet Canada’s defense budget continues to grow. The government allocated nearly CAD $27 billion for defense in 2023—funds that go toward military expenditures, maintenance of equipment, personnel salaries, and a host of other expenses. But who’s the real enemy here? If anything, many of these funds are being spent internally, struggling to tackle issues like rampant sexual misconduct in the ranks.

Perhaps dismantling Canada’s Department of Defense is a far-fetched, even utopian, vision. But a few nations have done it. Costa Rica famously eliminated its military over 70 years ago, redirecting resources toward education, health, and environmental preservation. In fact, Costa Rica is celebrated as one of the world’s happiest nations, according to the Happy Planet Index.

Could Canada not reimagine its own future along similar lines? The billions saved could be channelled into healthcare, infrastructure, education, or combating climate change—issues that pose tangible risks to Canadians’ well-being. And perhaps, in the process, Canada could become a leader in showing that a nation’s security need not rely on military might.

–Promod Puri