Topic: Canadian Militia
Canada's Citizen Soldiers
Report of the Minister of Militia and Defence of Last Year
The Quebec Saturday Budget, 28 March 1891
Ottawa, March 24.—The annual report of the Department of Militia has been published and distributed. A synopsis of the expenditure for the fiscal year ending June 30 last [i.e, 1890] is as follows:—
- Salaries, district staff, $18,583.31,
- Brigade Majors, $15,020.47,
- Royal Military College, $83,677.23,
- Ammunition, clothing and military stores, $198,553.31,
- Public armories and care of arms, $60,526.20,
- Drill pay and camp purposes, $265,330.54,
- Drill instruction, $36,287.50,
- Contingencies, $36, 731.97,
- Dominion of Canada Rifle Association, $10,000,
- Dominion of Canada Artillery Association, $2,000,
- Drill sheds and rifle ranges and military properties, $26,210.80,
- Construction and repairs, $70,631.60,
- Permanent forces, Cavalry, "A," "B," and "C" Batteries, Mounted Infantry and Infantry schools, $463,081.18,
- Improved rifle ordnance, $379,48,
- North-West service (rebellion, 1885), $9,797.09,
- Total, $1,296,810.68.
What Our Pensioners Cost
- Pensions for wounds, etc., in the war of 1812 (Upper Canada), $3,240,
- Pensions for wounds, etc., in the Fenian raids, $3,038,
- Pensions for wounds, etc., in rebellion of 1885, N.W.T., $22,238.10,
- Annual grant to all surviving veterans of 1812, $2,250,
- Total pensions, $30,766.10.
Number of Pensioners, 1889-1890
- Pensioners for wounds, etc., war of 1812 (Upper Canada), 39,
- Pensioners for wounds, etc., Fenian raids, 23,
- Pensioners for wounds, etc., rebellion of 1885, N.W.T., 121,
- Surviving veterans of 1812, 41,
- Total number of pensioners, 224.
Cost of Militia Since Confederation
The following statement shows the amount expended upon the Militia and defence of canada since Confederation:—
- Total expenditure by Department of Militia and Defence, $29,742,085.92,
- Total expenditure by Department of Public Works on military works and buildings, $1,352,619.31,
- Total expenditure by Department of Public Works on repairs of the same, $328,025.33,
- Total, $31,422,740.56.
"Taking into consideration the results obtained by the country at large," says Col. Panet in his report, "and the important services rendered by the Militia, the public are well repaid for the outlay. Large as this has been, however (averaging $1,366,206 per annum for the twenty three years, and including expenditures as above mentioned by the Public Works Department, for the fiscal year, ending 30th June last having reached $1,372,523), the amount now voted by Parliament barely suffices for the requirements of the service; and, in order to enable the department to provide for the development of the force correspondingly with the growth of the country, our estimates should be considerably increased."
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