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OTTAWA — Canada’s military was put on notice Friday that no stone will go unturned as the Harper government slashes hundreds of millions of dollars in defence spending.

National Defence is facing budget cuts in the order of between $1.1-billion and $2.5-billion over the next three years as the Harper government rewrites its vision for the military.

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This has resulted in a behind-the-scenes struggle between different parts of the military over what should be cut and what is absolutely necessary for Canada’s men and women in uniform to continue doing their jobs.

That struggle has occasionally broken into public view, notably in the form of repeated warnings from Prime Minister Stephen Harper last year that National Defence will be required to do its part to cut the federal deficit.

Canada’s new top soldier appears to have gotten the message as he used a major speech at a defence conference in Ottawa on Friday to warn that implementing those budget cuts will be the Canadian Forces’ “centre of gravity” for the foreseeable future.