The Defence Department didn’t get a lot of extra bucks in Tuesday’s budget but it is pleased with the measures implemented. Major spending increases aren’t appropriate until the International Policy Review is completed next fall.

The department is already benefiting from an additional $800 million a year that was announced in the 2003 budget, bringing its 2004-05 budget to $13.3 billion. It has also been able to move forward $1.3 billion over four years for the purchase of aircraft it can’t afford under the current budget but for which the government has said it will find the money. This $1.3 billion is not specifically in the budget.

What this budget did provide was $245 million in 2004-05 and $55 million in 2005-06 for the Afghanistan and Haiti missions plus personal total tax relief for the personnel serving in such “high-risk international operations.” This is expected to cost $30 million a year in forgone revenues.

Even more important, from the Defence Department’s point of view, is the commitment in the budget for funding of future missions. In the past, the department has had to assume the money would be forthcoming but wait for it to appear.