Lets see, Canadian Defense expenditures are right at 1% of GDP.
Canada ranks 132nd in the world in gross defense expenditures. Canada has sheltered under the US defense umbrella provided by NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Canadian air defense forces are great but ill equiped and very small, much smaller than they would be if Canada had to stand alone. Ditto for her ground forces, very small in number--fine soldiers and great comrades--poorly outfitted and not equiped with the latest gear.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces Same for Canadian sea lanes of communication and trade. Small Navy, old ships, no nuke subs, the US and the UK defend the GIUK--Greenland-Iceland UK sea area and the shipping lanes and Russian naval recce and attack lanes.
Give me a break. I love Canada and Canadians, but 1% of GDP spent on defense in this and the last world order is a joke. The US has a great friend and neighbor in Canada, but let's be real.
By the way, my appreciation for the state of Canada's Defenses come from personal experiences and many comments from Canadian military men over beer late into the night.
Quailnut
