Thursday May 22 2025

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 22 2025

Shilling a Missile Defence System

In light of President Donald Trump’s recent introduction of the “Golden Dome” missile defence scheme, there’s a lot of skepticism. We’ve seen similar programs before, and they’ve often been met with doubts about their practicality, cost, and strategic benefit.

Back in 2005, Canada chose not to join a U.S.-led missile defence initiative, largely because of concerns about sovereignty, financial costs, and the risk of increased militarization. Those concerns are still relevant today, especially with our current relationship with the U.S. under Trump being quite strained.

Archival News: Canada Says It Won’t Join Missile Shield With the U.S.

Trump’s claim that Canada is eager to join the “Golden Dome” seems more like political posturing than a reflection of our actual defence priorities. Investing billions in a system that might not even materialize is risky, particularly when we have more immediate defence needs to address.

Given the changes in our relationship with the U.S., marked by trade disputes and Trump’s controversial rhetoric, it’s important for Canada to take a different approach. We should politely decline participation in the “Golden Dome” and focus on upgrading our own defence systems to directly enhance our national security.

News: Canada wants to join Golden Dome missile-defence program, Trump says

Our partnership with Australia for the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) is a great example of this strategy. This collaboration not only diversifies our military procurement but also strengthens our ties with countries that share similar values. The JORN system provides proven, advanced radar capabilities that are perfect for Canada’s needs, especially in the Arctic.

News: Canada partners with Australia on radar system to detect threats from Russia and China

If there’s one positive outcome from Trump’s actions towards allies, it’s that Canada is learning to rely less on the U.S. and pursue partnerships that truly align with our national interests.

Investing in systems like JORN is a smart use of our defence resources, ensuring Canada remains secure, independent, and strategically sound in a complex world.

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From Star Wars to DOGE Wars

Here we go again with Missile Defense. Donald Trump has revived a concept reminiscent of Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) from the mid-1980s, which aimed to make incoming missiles “impotent and obsolete.” Dubbed “Star Wars” by the media, it seemed inspired by the era’s popular sci-fi films like “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”

This time around, Trump has not called upon the scientific community—the very sector of innovation that he and Elon Musk have rendered “impotent and obsolete” themselves, thanks to the massive DOGE chainsaw massacre they’ve unleashed on the federal civil service and science funding.

Trump optimistically believes that a missile defence solution will materialize before his term ends in three years. While missile defence has notably benefited Israel, shielding it from regional threats, the North American continent presents a far more complex challenge.

Although Reagan’s challenge led to some technological advancements, the dissolution of the USSR, rather than SDI, primarily eased global military tensions. Following the Soviet collapse, the urgency for missile defence subsided. When George W. Bush proposed a similar initiative, Canada, under Paul Martin, declined, echoing the earlier decision under Jean Chrétien to distance from the U.S. invasion of Iraq. These decisions drew a line in the alliance with the U.S., but also highlighted Canada’s failure to boost its own defence investments.

Canada Says It Won’t Join Missile Shield With the U.S. (Cartoon from February 25, 2005) The Canadian government declined to participate in the North American missile defense system, despite President George W. Bush’s lobbying efforts, marking a symbolic setback for the Bush administration as it attempted to mend relations with allies post-Iraq invasion.

Instead, Canada fell short of its NATO commitments under both Harper and Trudeau, leaving it unprepared as the post-WWII security umbrella provided by the U.S. began to retract. Now, as the U.S. pushes us away, Canada must strengthen its own defences, recognizing that a military partnership with the U.S. will not be what it once was.

Importantly, Canada has invested in the Australian Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), a system that enhances long-range surveillance and defence capabilities. This partnership with Australia signifies a strategic shift towards diversifying defence alliances and technologies, reflecting Canada’s need to independently bolster its security measures.

A continental defence system involving Canada is crucial, but procurement won’t always serve to bolster the U.S. military-industrial complex. The economic costs of Canada’s gradual detachment from America’s security framework must be understood by both nations as they navigate this new era.

Substack is an invaluable platform for me, especially given the uncertainties that come with being a staff editorial cartoonist. While I remain optimistic about my future, I am acutely aware of the unfortunate layoffs and newspaper closures that have impacted many talented colleagues in our field.
Please have a look at the animated making of video (it’s just 34 seconds long):