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History Canada

The Politics of Procurement

Military Acquisition in Canada and the Sea King Helicopter

by (author) Aaron Plamondon

Publisher
UBC Press
Initial publish date
Jul 2010
Category
Canada, Post-Confederation (1867-), Military Science, Political Freedom, Aviation
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780774859103
    Publish Date
    Jul 2010
    List Price
    $24.99
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780774817158
    Publish Date
    Jul 2010
    List Price
    $34.95
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780774817141
    Publish Date
    Dec 2009
    List Price
    $34.95

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Description

In 1993, Canada’s Liberal Party cancelled an order to replace the navy’s Sea King helicopter. It claimed that the Tory plan was too expensive, but the cancellation itself actually cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Aaron Plamondon connects this incident to the larger evolution of defence procurement in Canada, revealing that partisan politics, rather than a desire to increase the military’s capabilities, have driven the military procurement process. This saga of the government playing havoc with weapons acquisition offers an explanation for, and clues for resolving, the under-equipped state of Canada’s military.

About the author

Awards

  • Winner, John Lyman Prize for Canadian Naval and Maritime History, North American Society for Oceanic History

Contributor Notes

Aaron Plamondon teaches Canadian and military history at the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University. He is also a National Fellow at the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary.

Editorial Reviews

The Politics of Procurement is well written, painstakingly researched, and definitely not to be taken lightly.

Canadian Military Journal, Vol 11, No 2, Spring 2011