Justin Trudeau hints at boosting Canada’s military spending

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[suffolkowner]

The Chef's response? Well some privates told him that they like Cold Lake cause housing is cheaper.

These people, I swear.

He's talking to people who have already signed up. And next what Private is going to tell the RCAF Chief that he hates his posting?

We're not going to get those urban bases back. But at least can we look at things like putting a base back in Southwestern Ontario. And can we look at more travel assistance for these troops? Can we coordinate some infrastructure development towards remote bases?

It's not just the military that is out of touch. I see a lot of talk that young white guys are not signing up because of DEI. And all that talk isn't from young white guys. It's from old farts who don't know what Tinder is. Taking a kid from Toronto (even a young white guy) and sticking him in Cold Lake is basically taking him back 20 years in time. That's what he's going to feel when he opens Tinder and Uber Eats on his phone. And if that's your quality of life offer, the cheque better be huge and come with lots of time off, to go back to what he considers civilization.

Funny i just had a minor argument with a family member about Cold Lake. They just dont get it.
"They should just go there"
'Thats where they are needed"
"Dad did it"

 

[ytz]

Having U.S.-controlled system running Canada’s new warships too risky, warns former navy commander

U.S.-controlled command system on Canada’s new warships poses a serious risk warns the former commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.

ottawacitizen.com

 

[ytz]

Funny i just had a minor argument with a family member about Cold Lake. They just dont get it.
"They should just go there"
'Thats where they are needed"
"Dad did it"

The QoL gap between those remote bases and big cities is much larger now than it was in the past. And unemployment is actually lower. So young people have more options.

It blows my mind that a lot of people don't get this.

 

[suffolkowner]

The QoL gap between those remote bases and big cities is much larger now than it was in the past. And unemployment is actually lower. So young people have more options.

It blows my mind that a lot of people don't get this.

big differences. Our Dad was born on a farm like everyone lol. Cold Lake would be a metropolis and would have been hated for that

 

[ytz]

big differences. Our Dad was born on a farm like everyone lol. Cold Lake would be a metropolis and would have been hated for that

True. But these days even smaller cities in Canada are so different. Even Kingston or London or Saskatoon is substantially better than Cold Lake. Not just a little bit. An hour from Kingston covers a lot. An hour from Cold Lake covers a lot less.

 

[KevinB]

True. But these days even smaller cities in Canada are so different. Even Kingston or London or Saskatoon is substantially better than Cold Lake. Not just a little bit. An hour from Kingston covers a lot. An hour from Cold Lake covers a lot less.

Yup. The one hour ‘bubble’ is pretty key to most things (even ignoring the distance requirement for a leave pass).

The other aspect is if you can’t have civilization inside the hour drive window - you need to adapt:
1) A shift work schedule to accommodate (like most of the oilfield schedules of 14 On and 14 Off) which is nearly impossible for most trades that require 24/7 manning.
2) Pay More (but that isn’t alone a solution - more to follow on that)
3) Bring Civilization to you - requires an ass ton of infrastructure and investment by the GoC
4) Have a lot of activities on base that make that position attractive.


Realistically no one of the above 4 would be acceptable. The manning numbers for a modified shift work schedule would be fairly ruinous for the CAF, also since there are a lot of vacant PY’s you just can’t magically create people to fill positions. If you just pay folks more, that can work for some people, but often causes issues with a lot of single troops with money and not much to spend it on but alcohol.
Megabases can work, but you generally need a Division sized base or larger to make civilization out of nothing - and it can also attract a lot of unwanted investors from foreign influence activity to preparatory loan sharks (who often inhabit the outside of bases anyway). Number 4 can work but is also very expensive depending on your demographics, as you will have to put millions into MWR activities (that the CAF doesn’t have anyway).

My two favorite postings where Calgary - with the mountains so close you could climb or run in the warmer times and ski in the winter. Also Petawawa, mainly as my parents had a cottage 43km from base - so my weekends could be spent waterskiiing, sailing, or drinking by a beach campfire (and hunting in the fall).

 

[Maxman1]

Also, with some of those bases, they weren't exactly closed, but downsized and the reg force assets moved out (1 RCR used to be in London, 3 PPCLI used to be Chilliwack).