Justin Trudeau hints at boosting Canada’s military spending

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

That's what happens when a 1/5th of your population comes from a former die-hard communist country. And even before the union, many West German had strong socialist leanings.

Not sure if that's the reason or angst from its hydrocarbon dependencies on Russia.

The West Germans also enjoyed 50 years of someone else covering off on their defense. Much like Canada with NORAD, it's easy to become a democratic socialist utopia when someone else is footing the bill for protecting it.

 

[Remius]

The West Germans also enjoyed 50 years of someone else covering off on their defense. Much like Canada with NORAD, it's easy to become a democratic socialist utopia when someone else is footing the bill for protecting it.

Unlike Canada though, the Germans had someone else footing the bill by imposition and not by choice.

 

[Edward Campbell]

The West Germans also enjoyed 50 years of someone else covering off on their defense. Much like Canada with NORAD, it's easy to become a democratic socialist utopia when someone else is footing the bill for protecting it.

For many of thaw years, 30, for sure, the Germans did a fair share. The three German corps were credible fighting forces. Meanwhile, we, NATO, had agreed, amongst ourselves, to pretend that Belgium and the Netherlands actually had a corps each and that Vth and VIIth US Corps might actually leave their barracks and be able to fight.

 

[FJAG]

NATO, had agreed, amongst ourselves, to pretend that ... Vth and VIIth US Corps might actually leave their barracks and be able to fight.

Yup. The Vietnam and post-Vietnam era US Army was a different kettle of fish.

We could all see it well before Gabriel and Savage's "Crisis in Command" came out. Wonder if its still on the Army's reading list?

 

[lenaitch]

As for defence, unless you're directly involved in the Defence Industry or DND, your average Canadian doesn't care. If under PR a party was able to make it a wedge issue or a stipulation for support.. perhaps we wouldn't see the same kind of apathy from governments, politicians parties, and voters alike.

The exact opposite is also possible; a small party or two forcing the government to reduce funding in turn for their support to keep the government in power.

 

[MilEME09]

The exact opposite is also possible; a small party or two forcing the government to reduce funding in turn for their support to keep the government in power.

Which would be a very bad move, we have entered the most volatile state of world affairs in decades. This isn't just about the war in Ukraine, the geo political fall out in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and beyond will keep the CaF and others very busy

 

[The Bread Guy]

... As for defence, unless you're directly involved in the Defence Industry or DND, your average Canadian doesn't care. If under PR a party was able to make it a wedge issue or a stipulation for support.. perhaps we wouldn't see the same kind of apathy from governments, politicians parties, and voters alike.

As long as we're all OK that all sorts of other issues could also be wedged the same way, regardless of how much general public support there may be for said issues. One person's "finally getting the attention we deserve" can be another's "pandering to a splinter special interest just to keep all their snouts in the trough longer."

 

[Good2Golf]

As long as we're all OK that all sorts of other issues could also be wedged the same way, regardless of how much general public support there may be for said issues. One person's "finally getting the attention we deserve" can be another's "pandering to a splinter special interest just to keep all their snouts in the trough longer."

Universal Child Care and Dental coverage agree with you, Bread Guy…

 

[dimsum]

Universal Child Care and Dental coverage agree with you, Bread Guy…

I don't understand why those are controversial issues.

I don't have kids but I can see why child care is a benefit to society writ large.

Everyone has teeth...well, those that don't, would if there was dental coverage.

Same with pharma and mental health.

 

[Good2Golf]

I don't understand why those are controversial issues.

I don't have kids but I can see why child care is a benefit to society writ large.

Everyone has teeth...well, those that don't, would if there was dental coverage.

Same with pharma and mental health.

They’re not. That’s why a view of ‘Defence needs more’ has to be tempered in Canada.

 

[KevinB]

Guns or Butter…
But most forget that since I have guns, I can take your butter.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I don't understand why those are controversial issues.

I don't have kids but I can see why child care is a benefit to society writ large.

Everyone has teeth...well, those that don't, would if there was dental coverage.

Same with pharma and mental health.

I know a few dentists.

They know how the UK system of national dental care works and it really doesn't (anyone seen any high quality British teeth lately?) which is why it's collapsing.

This is mainly an effort by the NDP to stay relevant to their base after selling out to the Liberals to stay alive on the political scene.

Standing up a national dental plan will be so expensive, and meet so much resistance, that there will be two or three governments passing by before anything meaningful could be implemented like, you know, the national child care boondoggle.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Universal Child Care and Dental coverage agree with you, Bread Guy…

Among others, for sure ....

 

[Brad Sallows]

I don't understand why those are controversial issues.

Demands for government spending always exceed funds. I will (again) stipulate that every dollar government spends does some good for someone, somewhere. The question is whether the dollar would be better spent elsewhere.

It's also easy to predict that because government "solutions" are demand-side stimulants, and few measures are undertaken which might be reasonably expected to increase supply, shortages will result. Public dental insurance without more dentists means some people who currently enjoy easy access to their dentists are going to find it harder.

Is there an "elsewhere" for top-of-the-list spending priority? Yes. Health care (not insurance), particularly the front end. For all the talk of "people might die!" that accompanies most efforts to promote someone's spending agenda, health care delayed might as well be health care denied, and people really do die.

 

[MarkOttawa]

USAF professional head was in Ottawa with RCAF while Trudeau and Anand were at NORAD--laying down the law? Strange no mention I can see from our government:

Readout of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s travel to Canada​

Published June 10, 2022

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

OTTAWA, Ontario (AFNS) -- U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. traveled to Canada June 8-9 to further strengthen the close and longstanding relationship between the U.S. Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force.

During the visit, Brown engaged in staff talks led by RCAF Commander Lt. Gen. Al Meinzinger and RCAF Chief of Fighter Capability Maj. Gen. Sylvain Ménard, at National Defence Headquarters, and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial.

In staff talks, the leaders discussed steps taken to implement North American Aerospace Defense Command modernization and the significant value of combined planning to provide continuous monitoring and surveillance capability.

The RCAF discussed the importance of the Arctic, emphasizing how Canada’s insights have been vital to identifying new opportunities for cooperation.

“We are committed to working with the Royal Canadian Air Force on modernizing NORAD and on Arctic security to meet modern challenges in defense of North America,” Brown said. “Our continued collaboration is helping better prepare us to meet future challenges in the region together. I’m grateful for our partnership and look forward to building on our productive talks.”

Brown further welcomed Canada’s decision to select the F-35 Lightning II as its future fighter and noted that the increased capabilities and interoperability afforded by a common platform would bolster the continental defense partnership.

The leaders exchanged ideas on ways to increase retention in their respective air forces and agreed upon the fundamental importance of diverse backgrounds, demographics, and perspectives to readiness and mission success [guess who wanted that in].

Brown also expressed condolences for the deaths of four Royal Military College of Canada cadets in an automobile accident April 29.

Ahead of his engagements with the RCAF, Brown met with U.S. Ambassador David Cohen at U.S. Embassy Ottawa.

Readout of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s travel to Canada

During the visit, Brown engaged in staff talks with Royal Canadian Air Force senior leaders, and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial.

www.af.mil

Starting to feel like a full-court press from Biden admin. on NORAD etc.

Mark
Ottawa

 

[KevinB]

The landlord came to discuss the delinquent rent…

 

[MilEME09]

The landlord came to discuss the delinquent rent…

Pretty sure until they start publicly calling us out for not coming through on what we promise nothing will change

 

[KevinB]

Pretty sure until they start publicly calling us out for not coming through on what we promise nothing will change

We have started. More importantly we have started to discuss the ramifications of failure to abide by the requests (demands) to NORAD and NATO support.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

Pretty sure until they start publicly calling us out for not coming through on what we promise nothing will change

I don't think they would ever publicly call us out on anything.

I just see the U.S. hitting us where it will hurt us the most: technology and trade.

I think the only way the U.S. will make us actually do something about defense is to make everything else hinge on pulling our weight within NORAD and NATO.

 

[Good2Golf]

We have started. More importantly we have started to discuss the ramifications of failure to abide by the requests (demands) to NORAD and NATO support.

I don't think they would ever publicly call us out on anything.

I just see the U.S. hitting us where it will hurt us the most: technology and trade.

I think the only way the U.S. will make us actually do something about defense is to make everything else hinge on pulling our weight within NORAD and NATO.

Yup, any public call out will be a polite jab that it at least an order of magnitude less than what’s going on behind the scenes.