Canada’s top security agencies are set to receive a boost when the Conservative government tables its fiscal plan on Tuesday, CTV News has learned.
Sources say the increased funding will help combat domestic terrorism by specifically targeting radicalization, recruitment and terrorist financing.
In addition to funding, the RCMP, CSIS and Canada’s Border Services Agency are already set to receive more powers proposed under new anti-terror legislation known as Bill C-51.
Speaking to CTV’s Question Period Sunday, Defence Minister Jason Kenney would not comment on the specifics of the federal budget, but said the government is committed to ensuring that Canadian Forces have the proper resources they need to deal with "jihadi terrorism around the world.”
"Obviously the Canadian Forces are going to need adequate resources in the future, and our government will deliver that so stay tuned for the budget," said Kenney.
He also said that Canada is committed to fighting a “new Russian aggression” seen around the world.
Kenney said that he was recently told by NORAD commanders at the organization’s headquarters in the U.S. that the Russians have been ramping up their air presence in the Arctic.
"The commanders there told me that they have not seen the current level of Russian air force activity over the Arctic for a couple of decades, at least," Kenney said.
Last year, NATO said it conducted 400 interceptions of Russian military flights near its members' flight zones.
Kenny said that, given the increased activity, NORAD countries will have to ensure protective systems continue to function properly in the future.
"That may require future investments to modernize the radar capacity. And I can tell you that the commanders at NORAD are looking at those strategic questions," said Kenney.
The minister said Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression not only in the Arctic, but around the world, must be challenged in a measured way.
"The only kind of message that someone like Vladimir Putin understands is one of resolve, strength and deterrence, not weakness," said Kenney. "The best way to deal with that is calmly, but also with resolve and a message of strength."
Last week, the Canadian government announced it will deploy 200 troops to the eastern European country for two years to help train local soldiers fighting separatists there. The Russian Embassy in Ottawa called the decision "counterproductive and deplorable."
And Canadian troops are also on the ground and in the air in the Middle East. Up to 69 Canadian troops are on the ground training Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Iraq, while Canadian fighter jets take part in the U.S.-led airstrikes over Iraq and Syria. The Canadian mission, part of a U.S.-led coalition fight against terror group Islamic State, has a mandate to run until the end of March, 2016.
Russian snub at Arctic Council?
Russia recently said that its Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will not attend the two-day Arctic Council ministerial meeting in Iqaluit later this week. The gathering will mark the end of Canada's two-year chairmanship of the council.
Kenney was not surprised by Russia's snub, given the poor relations between Canada and Russia at the moment.
"Quite frankly, I think it's no secret that we have very difficult diplomatic relations with Russia right now because of the aggression of Vladimir Putin, because of the invasion of Ukraine … not to mention, he's now going to be, I gather, selling missiles to Iran," said Kenney. "This is a reckless foreign policy and, Canada, we make no apologies for objecting to the way he has created instability in many parts of the world today."
