Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 26/05) - The Conservative Party is pledging to dramatically boost defence spending in the North ahead of a federal election expected this winter.

Conservative defence critic Gordon O'Connor is in town this weekend inspecting Canadian Forces facilities to help iron out the party's position on northern defence spending. His visit to the North included a trip to the Yukon and will continue on to Nunavut next week.

While he has never been to the North, the former brigadier general said it's clear the federal government isn't doing enough to protect Northern sovereignty.

"If you go back to the 1960s, '70s and '80s, the Canadian army was famous for being able to do winter warfare," said O'Connor.

"I think very few soldiers get involved in that today because they're being cycled into Afghanistan, Bosnia or wherever else."

As a result, Arctic-ready equipment and vehicles have become antiquated and are in disrepair, he said.

Earlier this year, the Liberal government announced that it will spend $12.8 billion on defence over five years. O'Connor said, if elected, his party will spend "billions more."

"I got to see what's practical," said O'Connor. "That's why I'm here."

As for party leader Stephen Harper - who has spent the summer trying to soften his image on the BBQ circuit, O'Connor said he doesn't know if he will be coming North any time soon.

"I couldn't answer that right now," he said.