Many defence watchers hope the NDP will be much clearer on national defence than it has been in the past.

Published Mar 21, 2012.  Embassy online.

In times past, many in the military would have taken only a passing interest in an NDP leadership race.

But now, with the party second only to the Conservatives in Parliament, Canada’s military brass and defence lobby will be paying much closer attention to who will be the new leader of Canada’s official Opposition.

The Canadian government will face vital questions in the years to come about what to do with the enormous military machine that has been built in the decade since 9/11.

Should we continue buying the ships, aircraft, and combat vehicles set out in the four-year-old Canada First Defence Strategy? When will we deploy our military forces or keep them at home? And how much should we spend on national defence?

How will the NDP answer these questions?

Many defence watchers hope the NDP will be much clearer on national defence than it has been in the past.