Government hints at boosting Canada’s military spending

I have long said that you could fund the CAF to 4 percent of GDP, but we would still lag behind in NATO and be much the same where we are.

It's never the money, it's politics. It's procedures. It's the pork-barreling in our defence spending that makes us a paper tiger in NATO.

My only hope in all of this for the CAF and the GoC, whatever the political stripe that may be, is that it will rouse them out of the "Peace Dividend" slumber. The world has been unstable since 1945. We have used geography, proximity, and association as a Defence Policy ever since. ICBMs don't care how close to the U.S. or how far from Russia/China we are.

Don't give us a dime more, but let us spend money on defence like it matters. The fact we follow the same rules for purchasing a fighter aircraft as we do for buying office furniture for a Service Canada office is disgraceful. Don't treat defense procurement as a stimulus package for Canadian Industry. There I said it.

We spend so much money, time, and effort trying to get that money to stay in Canada; be it by awarding contracts to companies with no capability to produce items without first "retooling" and"developing the production lines", or by hamstringing perfectly competent and competitive bidders by forcing the project to be made in St. Margaret de Poutain de Champignon, QC because the ruling government either lost the seat in the election, or won it with promises.

We spend so much money and staff hours jumping through TBS regulations that are great for other departments, but are terrible for defence procurement. Some items you have to sole source, because there are technologies and capabilities no one else makes. By doing the bid process, you get companies clamoring for a project they can't deliver on, but because they tick the bright boxes on the score sheet....

I truly and honestly belief we need to split from PSPC and legislate that its not beholden to TBS, only to the PBO/PCO. The guiding principles of this new Defence Procurement department should be "Off the shelf, from somewhere else" if there isn't an industry in Canada.

BOOTFORGEN has demonstrated how well we do when we are able to actually get what we need, instead of lining the pockets of a Canadian company that got lucky.

That, but with tanks, fighters, ships, weapons systems....

 

[KevinB]

A buddy of mine cashed out when the early-Covid house prices in Barrie went nuts and bought just outside of Barry's Bay on the water.

The only thing that would concern me is proximity to healthcare/hospital. Living 'back of beyond' use to appeal to me but not so much as I get older.

Well unlike a lot of other ER’s in Ontario these days, the Barry’s Bay Hospital is 24/7.

They also have a helipad, if you need Medivac to Ottawa.

Plus you can stop in Wilno at the Wilno Tavern which had a fantastic Polish/German menu - great Bratwurst and Sauerkraut, as well as Pirogies. Cabbage Rolls are so/so (IMHO) but they have a lot of local craft beer too.

 

[Good2Golf]

for the Wilno Tavern!

 

[ueo]

Central Amerians in seasonal labor?

 

[KevinB]

for the Wilno Tavern!

It’s now under new management, but they are retaining everything from the previous owners. We did a three generation family meal a few weeks ago when I was up, food was still fantastic. My parents, me, my eldest and his GF, and my two younger kids. My wife was unimpressed at the pictures we sent as she was stuck in VA due to work.
They have also have live music on Tuesday’s (so we avoided that day, as I can’t hear very well in those sort of conditions these days).

 

[Spencer100]

The worst kept secret goes before she got Covid. I heard it before the first Reconciliation Stat day.

I'm a guy and even I think that's not a bad choice.

 

[lenaitch]

Well unlike a lot of other ER’s in Ontario these days, the Barry’s Bay Hospital is 24/7.

They also have a helipad, if you need Medivac to Ottawa.

Plus you can stop in Wilno at the Wilno Tavern which had a fantastic Polish/German menu - great Bratwurst and Sauerkraut, as well as Pirogies. Cabbage Rolls are so/so (IMHO) but they have a lot of local craft beer too.

The other small hospital boards or MoH should be looking at what they are doing right. All of the other ERs were 24/7 as well - until they weren't. I don't think there is a hospital in Ontario that doesn't have a helipad, either on-site or designated nearby.

My brother and I were planning a ride through Wilno last fall but weather a circumstances got in the way. Maybe this year.

 

[Happy Guy]

Interview with the new MND, Mr. Blair. As a politician he said all the right things:

- PM Trudeau made a commitment to the NATO defence spending of 2% at the recent NATO conf in Vilnius, Lithuania

- The Lib gov't is on a trajectory towards 2% (moving towards the goal is not not the same as meeting it)

- The Lib gov't will continue to make strat investments in context of current economic and fiscal environment (the key catch phrase used by all previous gov'ts to not substantially increase defence spending)

- The Lib gov't has made what is seemingly large boosts in defence spending - 40% increase in defence funding since 2017 and 70% increase in more years (sounds like big numbers but remember this is spread over years and the compare the increases based on the 2017 numbers, which discount things like inflation)

- Procurement processes will continue to be reviewed and updated and will build upon the work by the former MND, but due diligence must be maintained

(no fed dept have common procurement processes and tools, thus when the TB or PSPC imposes new regulations there is another layer of confusing bureaucratic red tape to muddle through)​

(there is a pressing need to align the procurement bureaucracy between DND and PSPC. DND has procurement specialists but is not allowed to buy, only PSPC has the auth - two layers of procurement bureaucracy.​

​

- The Lib gov't understands that these are challenging times and the need for security is higher than ever

- The Lib gov't actively participates in NATO commitments: sp to UKR and sp to LAT as example (implies need for creative accounting to meet 2% defence spending)

- Change in culture - discusses the sexual harassment issues and need to institutionalize reporting, investigation and handling over to criminal courts these cases. Follow Justice Arbour's recommendations

- Need to fix recruiting, training and retention


My opinion:

• appears to have good working relationship with CDS and Ass DMs
• defence spending will increase but will not reach 2% unless there is dramatic and direct threat to Canada

SIT: No change

 

[Halifax Tar]

Interview with the new MND, Mr. Blair. As a politician he said all the right things:

- PM Trudeau made a commitment to the NATO defence spending of 2% at the recent NATO conf in Vilnius, Lithuania

- The Lib gov't is on a trajectory towards 2% (moving towards the goal is not not the same as meeting it)

- The Lib gov't will continue to make strat investments in context of current economic and fiscal environment (the key catch phrase used by all previous gov'ts to not substantially increase defence spending)

- The Lib gov't has made what is seemingly large boosts in defence spending - 40% increase in defence funding since 2017 and 70% increase in more years (sounds like big numbers but remember this is spread over years and the compare the increases based on the 2017 numbers, which discount things like inflation)

- Procurement processes will continue to be reviewed and updated and will build upon the work by the former MND, but due diligence must be maintained

(no fed dept have common procurement processes and tools, thus when the TB or PSPC imposes new regulations there is another layer of confusing bureaucratic red tape to muddle through)​

(there is a pressing need to align the procurement bureaucracy between DND and PSPC. DND has procurement specialists but is not allowed to buy, only PSPC has the auth - two layers of procurement bureaucracy.​

​

- The Lib gov't understands that these are challenging times and the need for security is higher than ever

- The Lib gov't actively participates in NATO commitments: sp to UKR and sp to LAT as example (implies need for creative accounting to meet 2% defence spending)

- Change in culture - discusses the sexual harassment issues and need to institutionalize reporting, investigation and handling over to criminal courts these cases. Follow Justice Arbour's recommendations

- Need to fix recruiting, training and retention


My opinion:

• appears to have good working relationship with CDS and Ass DMs
• defence spending will increase but will not reach 2% unless there is dramatic and direct threat to Canada

SIT: No change

That's all the right things ?

 

[Happy Guy]

That's all the right things ?

As a politician he said all the right things, if you don't analyze what it really means and ignore the facts and circumstances.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

Looks like he was chosen as the person better suited to be a PMO puppet MND than Anand was.

 

[MilEME09]

Looks like he was chosen as the person better suited to be a PMO puppet MND than Anand was.

Anand seemed to care about doing her job, if Trudeau/Telford were out of the picture, I imagine she would be a powerhouse in cabinet and a friend of the CAF.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

Anand seemed to care about doing her job, if Trudeau/Telford were out of the picture, I imagine she would be a powerhouse in cabinet and a friend of the CAF.

Exactly the two things that got her punted:

1. Worked hard to do her job, thus appearing to outshine the Party chosen few (cough Melany Joly cough)

2. Worked hard on a portfolio (Defence) that was NOT! on brand for the LPC in its current form.

Different PM, different climate; she would have had C.D. Howe potential to overhaul the CAF and Defence Procurement/PSPC.

Instead we get an empty suit who is harmless to the PMO, but will be like a monkey with a machine gun for DND.

 

[Underway]

She's in Treasury now. Pretty high on the totem pole. It's certainly not a demotion, actually I think its a promotion as Treasury is a very powerful org that touches everything gov't does.

I don't think this was a hit on her internally. This experience will actually improve her abilities as a minister overall, but it really sucks that the CAF gets stuck with "Boring tow the line Blair".

 

[FJAG]

She's in Treasury now. Pretty high on the totem pole. It's certainly not a demotion, actually I think its a promotion as Treasury is a very powerful org that touches everything gov't does.

I don't think this was a hit on her internally. This experience will actually improve her abilities as a minister overall, but it really sucks that the CAF gets stuck with "Boring tow the line Blair".

That's really an interesting question.

When you look at the PMOs web site it has her right behind Chrystia who is second only to the PM. Blair is four positions after Anita.

But when you look at the House of Commons website and look at cabinet by order of precedence then MND is quite far down the chain (#18) and TB is four position below MND.

So your guess is as good as mine. In the PM's eyes (or at least the PMO wants to show it) she's the tops. How others perceive it based on precedence ???? Wikipedia explains the order of precedence like this "However, the current Canadian Ministry opted to use an alternative order that is determined by the Prime Minister." The Dauphin has spoken.

 

[OldSolduer]

That's really an interesting question.

When you look at the PMOs web site it has her right behind Chrystia who is second only to the PM. Blair is four positions after Anita.

But when you look at the House of Commons website and look at cabinet by order of precedence then MND is quite far down the chain (#18) and TB is four position below MND.

So your guess is as good as mine. In the PM's eyes (or at least the PMO wants to show it) she's the tops. How others perceive it based on precedence ???? Wikipedia explains the order of precedence like this "However, the current Canadian Ministry opted to use an alternative order that is determined by the Prime Minister." The Dauphin has spoken.

Some pigs are more equal than others....

 

[rmc_wannabe]

She's in Treasury now. Pretty high on the totem pole. It's certainly not a demotion, actually I think its a promotion as Treasury is a very powerful org that touches everything gov't does.

I don't think this was a hit on her internally. This experience will actually improve her abilities as a minister overall, but it really sucks that the CAF gets stuck with "Boring tow the line Blair".

President of the Treasury doesn't get invited to NATO summits. President of the Treasury doesn't have face to face meetings with the U.S. Secretary of Defense or the Chairman of the JCS. President of the Treasury doesn't set financial policy for the GoC, it merely ensures the math works and then cuts a cheque.

This was very much a way to limit her exposure domestically and internationally; while keeping her in line with LPC TM., without making it look like she was sent to the naughty corner for telling it like it is with the Defence Policy Review.

 

[FJAG]

President of the Treasury doesn't get invited to NATO summits. President of the Treasury doesn't have face to face meetings with the U.S. Secretary of Defense or the Chairman of the JCS. President of the Treasury doesn't set financial policy for the GoC, it merely ensures the math works and then cuts a cheque.

This was very much a way to limit her exposure domestically and internationally; while keeping her in line with LPC TM., without making it look like she was sent to the naughty corner for telling it like it is with the Defence Policy Review.

I have that suspicion myself although I'll freely admit I have nothing concrete to substantiate it. Placing her as number three in the cabinet without meaningful ways to exercise power, exposure and influence is very limiting.

 

[GK .Dundas]

Treasury Board has been used on more than one occasion to kill someone's career.

 

[Furniture]

Treasury Board has been used on more than one occasion to kill someone's career.

Maybe she's being hidden there to escape the fallout of a government that seems to be in decline. Out of Sight and out of mind until Trudeau and his more visible team are gone, so she can step in a lead the part to better fortunes after they are ousted.

 

[FJAG]

Maybe she's being hidden there to escape the fallout of a government that seems to be in decline. Out of Sight and out of mind until Trudeau and his more visible team are gone, so she can step in a lead the part to better fortunes after they are ousted.

That strikes me as a degree of Machiavellian foresight and strategic planning that I don't give the Liberals credit for.