The Canadian Army Journal

procurement. With little exception, Canada has never prepared and executed a national
maritime industrial strategy that can sustain domestic shipbuilding. Equally disturbing is
the lack of clear naval policy to provide long term guidance and funding that would allow
continual modernization and recapitalization of Canada’s fleet. Through all of this, the
Navy has managed, arguably, to become the most interoperable of the services with our
closest ally, no mean feat given the policy challenges and technological sophistication of
naval platforms. Mayne’s book provides much relevant food for thought as the Navy
undergoes the acquisition of new support ships, Halifax-class midlife refits, planning for
destroyer replacement, the creation of an Arctic deepwater berthing facility and takes
possession of new maritime rotary wing aircraft.
Endnote
1. Tony German, The Sea is at Our Gates: The History of the Canadian Navy. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1990,
p.148.
150 Canadian Army Journal Vol. 11.1 Spring 2008