Canada has NO national interests in sending troops to Mali, or anywhere in Africa. 

Canada has NO national interests in sending troops to Ukraine. 

Canada has NO national interests in sending troops anywhere in the Middle East. 

Canada should adopt a foreign policy where we don't have to send troops anywhere in the world. We don't need that in defense, to do offense. We should cancel all agreements that require us to send troops to fight somebody else wars. We should be non-aligned. 

We can do away with our Army. Downsize our air force to do only homeland defense and transport. Save a whole lot of billions. 

This said, I am not weak on defense. We should have a world class navy, a navy with aircraft and marines. Protected by subs. Put our big bucks there. A powerful, full capability, respected navy. Arctic to blue oceans.