Canada in WW3

In 1986, the cold war goes hot and world war 3 starts. It's a non-nuclear ww3. The war theatre is in europe (Warsaw Pact), the middle east (Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Egypt), asia (North Korea) and the artic (Alsaka, canadian artic). The war lasts from 1986 to 1993. The reason for the start is unimportant, what is important is how the war affects Canada.

Domestic:

What affects would there be on the Canadian economy, society, and government? Would we go to a war economy, Would there be rationing, what about the political climate, propaganda, etc?...

War:

How would the canadian military fare in this war? Where would the Canadian Forces be deployed, what equipment would it use, How would the security of the canadian mainland be handled, etc?...

Anything else?

I'll use the answers here in a canada TL (bare bones right now) i'm planing.
 
Where would the Canadian Forces be deployed, what equipment would it use, How would the security of the canadian mainland be handled, etc?...
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In 1986 3 x RCAF CF-18 squadrons were peacetime deployed at Baden-Soellingen in West Germany as part of the 4th Allied Tactical Air Force for starters.
 
How do you keep a WW running from 1986 to 1993 without it,
A- going nuclear ?
B- running out of weapons and coming to a compromise peace ?
 
How the frip do you get a non nuclear WWIII?

If NATO has good enough conventional weapons that they don't need nukes to stop the Soviets, why on earth would the Soviets invade?

And it would be the exact same in reverse. If one has good enough conventional weapons to stop their enemies then why wouldn't either of the alliances resort to nukes in order to not lose.
 

James G

Gone Fishin'
Canadian military forces / plans in the time period.

The Canadian Armed Forces were combined as one service from 1968 up until the 2014 (I think).
In 1986 Canada had a small military with the structure for growth especially with land forces but a shortage of equipment and men who hadn't seen any peacetime fighting. Canada could build its own aircraft, ships and some heavy equipment for troops.
There were Canadian forces overseas in Germany and throughout the width of Canada.
In Germany there were the CF-18 Hornet squadrons mentioned plus the 4th Mechanised Brigade-Group; both were located in southern West Germany with 4ATAF and CENTAG respectively. There was the 5th Infantry Brigade-Group in Quebec assigned to go to Norway and fight there... but when that was exercised it was a massive failure in terms of transportation and later abandoned. I'd have to check the dates but I think this hadn't been tried by '86 so that mission might be a go. There was some equipment stored in Norway though most would have to come by sea in ships... a slow process open to enemy interference as showed when it was exercised!
Canada had the 1st Mechanised Brigade-Group in Alberta with more professional soldiers and then the Special Service Force in central Ontario; the latter effectively being another brigade.
The Canadian Militia could in theory raise 50+ infantry battalions and 15-odd battalion-sized armour regiments though equipping these would be difficult to say the least. The Militia could be used to raise say five divisions, but that would be difficult in terms of training the men, arming them and getting organised. the building blocks were there but... the political will would have to be stronger.
Canada flew Star-fighters alongside newer Hornet's as combat aircraft and operated a lot of helicopters and short-range transports. Air defence assets protected the country as part of a firm link with the US-based NORAD. there were many big airbases deep inside the country away from coastal danger though I would say open to Spetsnaz attack if the effort was made.
The Canadian Navy wasn't very modern but it had destroyers, frigates, smaller warships, underway replenishment ships and submarines. There were ASW helicopters and P-3's too. Both Pacific and Atlantic Fleets were in theory mutually supporting but the distances were long.
Canada could and would fight as its security policy was linked to the US and Europe in defence rather than 'adventures' elsewhere.
These are just some details of what I know about the Canadian military in the period you asked for.
 
Canadian military forces / plans in the time period.

Canada flew Star-fighters alongside newer Hornet's as combat aircraft and operated a lot of helicopters and short-range transports.

The Starfighter operated alongside the CF-18 for only a few years - the first CF-18's entered service in late 1982 and the last CF-104 was retired by March 1986, with CF-104 phaseout beginning in 1983. For a war beginning in 1986 the CF-104 isn't likely to feature much.
 
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