If you grew up in North America, you likely possess memories of checking your parent’s computer on Christmas eve to see Santa’s progress on gift deliveries throughout the world. I surely do, and still remember seeing that early-2000s 3D animation of Santa and his reindeer as they hovered over iconic landmarks such as the pyramids of Egypt, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. When most people from my generation hear the abbreviation NORAD, their minds inevitably fill the blanks by adding the words, ‘Santa Tracker.’ But what exactly is NORAD, apart from a Christmas time publicity stunt?
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was a pact made in 1957, at the height of the Cold War, to “[d]eter, detect and defeat air threats to Canada and the United States” including aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles. The agreement was made when Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and National Defense Minister George Pearkes, just installed in-office, quickly accepted the advice from the Canadian military for a joint response to airborne threats between the two countries. The Conservative Diefenbaker administration was heavily criticized by the Liberal opposition for its haste, and to this day, NORAD has aided in roping Canadians into international hostility alongside our U.S. partners. The collaboration takes place primarily between the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Air Force, and includes more than 4000 employees throughout North America, with over 1000 being situated here in Canada.
A flawed history in intervention and deterrence
While being successful in aligning Canadian air troops with NORAD doctrine and policy, NORAD has been a source of contention for Canada both with its U.S. partners and internationally. This is because consent is required on behalf of both countries in the pact before operations begin, often creating room for a lack of quick and effective communication and difficulties in the implementation process. In 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the American military went on standby alert as soon as the crisis was apparent but the Canadian military was not approached like they were supposed to be, as NORAD partners to provide input for discussion in wartime preparations. Instead, predetermined U.S. intervention plans were relayed to the Canadian government after the fact, like the rest of the NATO allies.
More than anything, the NORAD agreement portrays Canada as equally hostile to perceived airborne threats as our neighbors. If the American government intends to plan a response to a perceived airborne threat, the Royal Canadian Air Force is inevitably roped into that response as well. The most extreme case of this phenomenon was shown in Canada’s reluctance to accept nuclear weapons into the country, further souring NORAD relations. Canada acquired the Anti-Ballistics Missile Clause in the 1968 renewal of NORAD, which allowed the country to veto participation in any active ballistic missile defense. The clause remains intact today, despite its peaceful intentions the clause has remained a matter of controversy for National Defense enthusiasts in Canada.
NORAD Tracks Santa
Oddly enough, the NORAD Tracks Santa program had its beginnings before the official formation of NORAD itself. The publicity campaign began on December 24, 1955, and has persisted for more than 65 years in normalizing military surveillance under the guise of Christmas spirit. While initially operating as a telephone service allowing children to place calls for updates on Santa’s progress, its operations expanded near the beginning of the 21st century into web services with cutesy animations of Saint Nicholas and his reindeer hovering over countless worldwide wonders. Nowadays, the NORAD Santa Tracker has also expanded its operations to take form in mobile apps and social media platforms.
Although the United States’ NORAD website claims that it receives “several million unique visitors from more than 200 countries and territories around the world,” it can be inferred that the majority of this online traffic comes from the U.S. itself. The enthusiasm is paralleled in Canada too, and in 2001, CBC released a video segment endorsing the NORAD Santa Tracker, with the unsettling caption, “He sees you when you’re sleeping. But NORAD sees him first!”
This year marks the 68th year of the NORAD Tracks Santa Program. On the official website for the program, designed for children, the slogan “We have the watch” is the text displayed. There is also a section titled “How we track Santa and protect North America” which includes a subsection on radar and satellite technology. Frighteningly, this section also includes a portion on jet fighters.
“Canadian NORAD fighter pilots, flying the CF-18, take off out of Newfoundland and welcome Santa to North America,” the latter subsection reads. “Then at numerous locations in Canada other CF-18 fighter pilots escort Santa. While in the United States, American NORAD fighter pilots in either the F-15s, F16s or F-22s get the thrill of flying with Santa and the famous Reindeer – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph.”
The future of NORAD in Canada
There is currently only one active, full-time NORAD headquarters in Canada, which is a subsidiary of the Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba. However, Canada’s Department of National Defense is currently working on upgrading the Canadian Air Force infrastructure at four Forward Operating Locations in the North – comprising locations in Inuvik, Yellowknife, Iqaluit and Goose Bay. Upgrades are set to include runway modifications, hangars, operations facilities, telecommunications facilities and airfield recapitalization.
These upgrades are one component in an overarching project for the Canadian government to modernize NORAD. In June 2022, National Defence Minister Anita Anand announced a funding package of $4.9B for NORAD services over the next six years, and $38.6B over twenty years on an accrual basis; The first round of NORAD funding comes from existing, previously announced funding, whereas the most recent NORAD modernization announcement entails funding after this six year period.
“Make no mistake: Canada will be at the table in the short term with a robust package to modernize NORAD – A system that has kept Canadians and Americans safe for over 60 years,” Anand told the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence shortly after the June 2022 announcement.
Is this true? Some, to the likes of Anand, might agree that NORAD is a useful National Security tool and a much-needed pledge between Canada and the U.S. to keep our joint aerospace safe and secure. Others, like myself, will tell you that NORAD is being modernized for the same reason it did when it was created at the height of the Cold War: fear. As we all know, fear can be irrational, doing much more to create hostility with international peers as well as a sense of distrust and military surveillance.
Regardless of your thoughts on NORAD, one thing is for sure about this combined organization: That is, they do a whole lot more than simply track Santa during the holidays.
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