The West Block Transcript – Episode 40, Season 13

THE WEST BLOCK
Episode 40, Season 13
Sunday, June 16, 2024

Host: Mercedes Stephenson

Guests:
General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff
Mélanie Joly, Foreign Affairs Minister

Location:
Ottawa Studio

Mercedes Stephenson: The chief of the defence staff has said our military is not ready. As he prepares to say goodbye, we’ll get his candid assessment on the state of the Canadian Armed Forces.

I’m Mercedes Stephenson. The West Block starts now.

Wayne Eyre is leaving his post as Canada’s top soldier. With wars raging from Ukraine to the Middle East and domestic dependence on military help increasing, we’ll ask how dire things are for the men and women in uniform.

And on the diplomatic front, should Canada be ready to step up internationally? Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says Canada will soon have a plan to hit NATO’s spending target, but will it really happen?

Militaries are supposed to be prepared and ready for anything, but when it comes to the Canadian Armed Forces, even our top brass have said that’s not the case.

Bill Blair, Minister of Defence: “We must do better.”

Mercedes Stephenson: Earlier this year, the minister of national defence warned the military is in big trouble when it comes to having enough troops.

Bill Blair, Minister of Defence: “There’s more people who’ve left than have entered. That is, frankly, it’s a death spiral.”

Mercedes Stephenson: And on Remembrance Day, our chief of the defence staff was blunt about Canada’s readiness to fight a war or defend itself.

General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff: “Mercedes, my biggest concern is not being ready. Not having the capabilities, the people, the training, the sustainment ready to respond to what is really an uncertain future.”

Mercedes Stephenson: