The Trudeau government has announced plans to buy up to 12 new conventionally-powered, under-ice capable submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy. The estimated cost is a whopping $120 billion, or $10 billion apiece. Ottawa’s exorbitant military spending as workers and youth are struggling to keep their heads above water makes clear the priorities of the capitalist class.
Trudeau’s intention to buy new submarines comes amid growing pressure from U.S. imperialism for Canada and other NATO members to spend at least two per cent of GDP on the military amid escalating imperialist war. Canada has sent billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine for NATO’s proxy war against Russia and continues to arm Israel in its genocidal war on Gaza and now Lebanon.
The government now stresses the need for enhanced underwater surveillance as warming Arctic waters make the Northwest Passage more accessible to foreign rivals of Canadian imperialism. It said the Arctic Ocean could become the most efficient shipping route between Europe and East Asia by 2050 and that “competitors are seeking access, transportation routes, natural resources, critical minerals, and energy sources through more frequent and regular presence and activity.” It warned specifically about an increased presence of Russian and Chinese vessels.
Canada currently has four Victoria-class submarines, purchased from Britain in 1998. Over the last 20 years, the Royal Canadian Navy has tended to have only one submarine operational at any time due to lack of facilities and personnel necessary to maintain and support the entire underwater fleet.
To the question “Who pays?”, the right-wing think tank the Macdonald-Laurier Institute says the quiet part out loud. They argue, “Raising taxes is not an option”, claiming that “taxes are already too high and are stifling Canada’s economic growth and productivity.” Rather, they say, “The nub of the problem is that Ottawa can only reach the 2 percent [military spending] target by shedding some of its programs, including its new housing, daycare, dental benefits, national school food, and pharmacare programs.”
In other words, what money goes to submarines is money that will be taken from the few programs that make life bearable for workers. The choice to spend up to $120 billion on submarines underscores that the capitalist state is always able to find money for serving the interests of the rich. But when it comes to the interests of workers, youth, and the oppressed, we are told there isn’t enough money.
The total amount of student-loan debt in Canada is more than $23.5 billion. Universal single-payer pharmacare would cost $15 billion per year. Ending boil-water advisories in First Nations communities would cost $3.2 billion, plus $360 million each year for operations and maintenance. The government could solve all of these problems for a fraction of the cost of buying new submarines. Yet it chooses the latter because the state represents the capitalists who wish to defend their imperialist interests.
There is more than enough money to ensure a high standard of living for all. The problem is that this wealth remains in the hands of the capitalist class, which prefers to funnel public money into war and repression. To put these resources towards social needs rather than further enriching billionaires, we must expropriate the capitalists.
