We're in an entirely different environment in terms of planning. The challenge that I face as a long-term observer of Canadian defence policy is that we've often had very good plans. The question becomes: What happens in the three- to four-year period in which the political attention is no longer on?
We had a very good plan coming from Joe Clark in terms of Arctic sovereignty when we announced it back on September 10, 1985, in Parliament. That was a great plan, but we're only seeing bits of it being implemented today. For example, the AOPS, Arctic capability and getting the icebreakers were all promised in 1985.
My concern is that the moment we convince ourselves we are safe—and we are not going to be safe—all of a sudden we'll say we really don't have to follow through on this. The plan, as you've isolated, is great. It is a great plan and we see significant movement in actual monies flowing. Can we sustain it? That's my biggest worry.