Defending North America:
Choices For Canada
The Scrapping of the Avro Arrow
For Cancelling the Project
The Avro Arrow plane cost was six times more to
produce than its American counterpart.
Canada tried to sell the Arrow to the U.S. and Britain, but with no success.
Funds were needed to honour Canada's part in the NORAD Agreement.
The Soviet Union was replacing its bombers, against which Avro Arrow was intended, by ballistic missiles.
Many senior
Canadian military officials were opposing to the project.
Against Cancelling the Project
Test flights indicated that with the proper engines the plane could well be the world's fastest and most advanced interceptor
Production of the new plane would have ulitmatly prevented the lost of 15,000 jobs.
France was interested in purchasing the Arrow's engine for their Mirage 4 bombers.
The Avro Arrow was entirely built and designed in Canada.
This was a bold statement for our national pride and strength.
Acquiring the Bomarc missile for the RCAF was not the answer to all of Canada’s defence problems.
Canada's Acceptance of
Nuclear Weapons in 1963
For Nuclear Weapons in Canada
Canada needs to fulfill their partnership obligations in NATO and NORAD.
Created a sense of security for Canadians,
knowing that now we can discourage attacks.
Canadian trade with and the investments from US would be injured if we do not accept nuclear warheads for the Bomarc missiles.
The integration of nuclear weapons into Canada military already started, as the purchased U.S. CF-101 Voodoo interceptor was nuclear armed.
Establish Canada as a powerful nation.
Against Nuclear Weapons in Canada
Strong internal opposition as many feared this would result in contributing to global suicide.
The enormous amount of money required to buy or produce those dangerous weapons could be spent in a better way.
Even though US was the closest ally, Canada was not practically involved in the cold war, not it wanted to be.
The potential for an accident could have a disastrous effect on Canadians and the natural world
The spread of nuclear weapons must be avoided and Canada must set that example.
Canada's Role in the
Cuban Missile Crisis
For Involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis
A poll showed that 80% of Canadians believed that Canada should have done everything it could to aid the USA in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
To keep North America stable, Canada should have got involved between US and Cuba to stop the conflict and keep the peace.
The Halifax naval unit would have been able to monitor the Soviet subs operating in the north Atlantic.
Since the medium-range missilesin Cuba could reach Canadian territory, Canada needed to take a military stand.
Against Involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis
Another nation entering into the conflict would have only deepener the crisis and increase the danger of another war.
Getting involved in the conflict is only an act of intervention in the internal affairs of Cuba.
An independent United Nations inspectors should go into Cuba and survey the nuclear sites.
US President Kennedy did not offer conclusive evidence of Rusian nuclear missiles presence in Cuba.