On the bandwagon?

Dear Editor:

A recent CBC phone-in program asked if Canada should increase military spending. The question should have been “What is the purpose of the Canadian military and where should resources be allocated?”

Canada just jumped on the let’s-help-Ukraine bandwagon and announced the purchase of F35 fighters. Who will they fight or will they be just be used for training exercises and top gun competitions like the F18? Did we use our screen door submarine to protect our coastline? Were our 82 Leopard II tanks deployed to Afghanistan to protect our ground forces or are they sitting idle in Canada like the 50 Leopard I tanks we have declared surplus and can’t give away? Maybe we should treat the military as a corporation where an annual public shareholders (that’s us taxpayers) meeting is held to discuss last year’s accomplishments and future goals and financial requirements.

Or do we just keep throwing billions at expensive toys that are arguably not needed and will never be used? Let’s give the tanks to Ukraine. They seem to know how to use them.

John Gollinger, Mapleton