Is Canada Secure?

January 4, 1939

The question of military training brings up another thought, and one directly connected with it, and that is, "How safe is Canada from invasion, and what have we to cope with such a situation if and when it should arise." The idea of training our idle youth to take care of themselves and their country takes on another aspect if we study or in fact give any thought at all to our own security. In canada we live in a fool's paradise, relying on the protection afforded by the Mother Country and basking in the sunshine of the ability of the United States to come to our aid if necessary. Is it not time we sat up and took a serious account of ourselves. Ask yourself the question and be frank about the answer, "What would you and I do if Canada were attacked tomorrow?" You are as vague about your actions as I am, and whilst we are making up our minds the damage has been done. All this beautiful talk about coming to our aid is fine at public functions and after dinner speeches, but what of reality. The heart of Canada is sound but the head is weak, and it is the latter that counts in times of emergency. The government is the head. Look at what happened only a short time ago when this country was sounded out on the aviation question? Why the hedging, and 'umming, and ah'ing?--It was only when the public at large took a stand that the Ottawa politicians saw daylight and consented to the suggestions coming from Britain. Party politicians are Canada's greatest stumbling block to unity, and a house divided against itself cannot stand. . . . . .

With the world in its present state, let me get back to my question, "Is Canada safe?" Let us suppose the mad dogs of Europe decide that the time is propitious and break out. No warnings are given, no stated declaration of war, just hell let loose. In Canada, we have no conception of what was happening in England the week prior to Munich. Letters from home tell of faces that never smiled for a week, of panicky crowds rolling out into the country from the big towns, of dugouts in city parks and open spaces, gas masks, and air raid precautions in every locality. Over here all we were interested in was who would win the hockey match or the football game, or what was the price of wheat. In Europe, the death struggle is on. Britain's first line of defence is busy. The North Sea fleet is tackling the German High Seas fleet. In the Mediterranean, the fleet is watching the Italian manoeuvres. the Atlantic division and the Channel squadrons are required for home defence. Japan seizes its opportunity for Oriental domination of the East, and the U.S. is suddenly confronted with a military adversary of her own waters on the Pacific Coast. All or any of this may happen. Canada has one of the longest coast lines of any country open to attack. The few fortified places that we possess are all right so far as they go, but they cannot do the impossible. The modern bomber of today figures in thousands of miles where twenty years ago we talked hundreds. . . . . .

And in Canada, a permanent force of somewhere around 4,000 men, and a Canadian navy of half a dozen small vessels to protect our shores. What could we do? At the present time we hear the provinces squabbling with the Dominion as to the status. Would they squabble with the enemy at their gates. In the last war we were Canadians to the rest of the world, but in our own encampments, we were Ontarians, Manitobans, Quebecois, or Nova Scotians. And the petty jealousies and intrigues that went on behind the scenes have never been recorded. In case of invasion would the Conservatives join with the Liberals, and would the C.C.F. and the Social Creditors throw in their lot with the older parties. Would Mr. Hepburn and M. Duplessis forget their provincial quarrels and follow MacKenzie King or Dr. Manion or whoever happened to be at the head of the Dominion Government. I said the heart of Canada is sound, the people would rally, but the head is weak. It is my duty and yours to see that should the time come, Canada is ready and more than ready to look after herself, and that means sacrifice and plenty of it. the alternative--guess it for yourself.