From cbc.ca, this story of Steve Harper promising to increase the defence presence at the Bagotville, Quebec.
Seems having the only CF-18 interceptor squadron in the East isn't enough.
Nope.
Bagotville will now be home to yet another battalion of infantry (we are up to six new ones now and counting, I've been able to keep track of them all) on top of a refurbished CF-18 presence in the Quebec community.
"Harper said it's good news in a region of high unemployment." The Department of National Defence and Canada's men and women in uniform become more shameless pork in the Connie campaign to buy votes with public money.
Meanwhile, there is no sign that doubling the number of infantry battalions in the Canadian Forces matches with the ability of the Forces to recruit what now amounts to almost 4, 000 new soldiers despite the fact that recruiting this fiscal year will fall 1, 000 short of target.
meanwhile, no word from Harper where his mixed regular/reserve battalions will be located, aside from major centres like Toronto and Vancouver. That's in addition to his doubling of the regular army, including this new presence in the heart of separatist country.
Hmmm. Maybe, with all this extra military presence in and around Quebec, there is a secret Conservative plan to fight separatists. I mean fight separatists, literally. (Unlike Stephen Taylor, I mention conspiracies in jest, for those who miss the joke.)
Meanwhile, people in Goose Bay are eagerly awaiting the confirmation that Harper wants to put a battalion of infantry in the community.
My guess is that in addition to Goose Bay, when Harper returns to the province there will be at least one other infantry battalion coming to St. John's as well as one located in Stephenville.
