"A Naval Gazing Experience"

May 7, 2003

Last Friday bad weather unfortunately prevented a long anticipated ride in a Sea King helicopter complete with a scheduled deck landing on the frigate, HMCS Saint John’s.  However, considering the Sea King’s reputation, what was a disappointment to me, was a relief for Leah.  More on the Sea King later. 

Ever since Canada’s birth as a nation in 1867, we have debated at length the worth and role of our nation’s armed forces.  From columns I’ve written over the past decade you know I’ve always been a strong proponent of maintaining a strong military.  I believe there has always been, and will always be, evil dictators in positions of power who will only have their ambitions held in check by a credible threat of force.  That is how its always been and I fear how it will always be, no matter how much we might wish it otherwise or believe the world should have evolved to the point where war is always avoidable. 

Therefore, having always been such an ardent supporter of our military it was a very special privilege to be chosen to participate in the Canadian Armed Forces Parliamentary Program.  Having already selected the Navy, last week in Halifax I toured ships and participated in drills and exercises.  I was shown the good and the bad.  The chrome and the rust.  The new and the old.  I spoke at length with naval airmen, submariners, divers and sailors.  From the Admiral to the Ordinary Seaman.  

And simulators.  Simulators to teach ship’s handling and navigation.  To train sailors in damage control and fire control.  And fire control means firing the ship’s guns and missiles, not putting out fires…although they continuously practice that drill also!  Simulators to practice how to properly board suspect vessels and confront uncooperative crews.  To practice communications and engineering.  Simulators so high tech they are like a reality video game, others as obsolete as the equipment they pretend to be simulating. 

A simulator of our new Victoria class submarines so real the claustrophobia is genuine.  But above all else, as expected, it was the calibre of the navy men and women that most impressed me. 

Oh yeah, and to my surprise I learned that the now infamous Sea Kings are safe.  Noisy, slow, antiquated, 1950’s technology, time consuming to maintain and long overdue for replacement…all true, but not unsafe to fly. 

I also learned first hand how statements by politicians intent on ‘torquing’ a story or ill-conceived headlines by “shock and awe” seeking media can cause unnecessary additional stress for navy families. 

Young children of our military families already know their dad, or mom, are engaged in dangerous work.  What they don’t need are sensational headlines in reference to the Sea Kings or submarines their parents serve in.  They don’t need their justifiable concern for their parent’s safety unnecessarily elevated to nightmares about them not coming home.

 With the increased terrorist threat to global peace and continental security, now is the time to rearm our armed forces.  And while we're at it, we should also ensure our comments critical of government inaction are not misinterpreted by those we're trying to help.