Government hints at boosting Canada’s military spending

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[OldSolduer]

Getting away from the CAF habit of buying something, running it to end of life, then popping over to Crappy Tire for duct tape, Gorilla Glue, and zap straps to keep it going for another decade or three, how long would a "balance of needs" fleet of Rafales actually last? Would there really be much left on the airframes by the time the 6th gen birds show up?

Oh ye of little faith!!

But I agree. In fact in my day there was no "Gorilla GLue"!! Luxury!!!

 

[ytz]

If you don't think tariffs are going to drive procurement, just wait till these folks are front and centre on the political scene:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1907662348594094195

 

[Quirky]

How are you going to run your insitu theatre sustainment ? Admittedly, I have less than zero experience in RCAF sustainment so perhaps your requirements are different, I am willing to hear that out.

Without going into every detail, I'll just say that we need a version of DOGE to audit the RCAF for efficiencies. QM for example if you're familiar with it, is a massive self-educed bureaucratic anchor for the organization which takes away about 100 maintenance technicians and supervisors, RCAF wide, from wrenching on equipment. The amount of policy that keeps getting introduced is self-defeating. I've heard multiple times that the policy makers don't care how many lines units fly, so long as their policies are followed and these QM style positions are filled with technicians.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Without going into every detail, I'll just say that we need a version of DOGE to audit the RCAF for efficiencies. QM for example if you're familiar with it, is a massive self-educed bureaucratic anchor for the organization which takes away about 100 maintenance technicians and supervisors, RCAF wide, from wrenching on equipment. The amount of policy that keeps getting introduced is self-defeating. I've heard multiple times that the policy makers don't care how many lines units fly, so long as their policies are followed and these QM style positions are filled with technicians.

You're going to have to define QM. That can mean a few different things depending on context and environment to me.

 

[calculus]

My Army context is Quartermaster, but I suspect it's a Quality function of some sort.

 

[Halifax Tar]

An AORs is second line. Maybe we should know our own doctrine before we leverage the language to propose what could or should be fully or partially civilianized.
View attachment 92420
View attachment 92421

You're correct, I was trying not to muddy the waters by bringing up AORs. As I think I understand what the originator means.

And I suspect it has more to do with deployable units verses non.

I trying to dive deeper into their intent. But thanks for blowing my cover

 

[Halifax Tar]

My Army context is Quartermaster, but I suspect it's a Quality function of some sort.

We have a QM in the Navy too. And it's called Quartermaster, buts it's very far from the Army definition.

 

[Cloud Cover]

Cpl SOF and SAR already make six figures before allowances... Cpl 4 Spec 2 makes over $91k before allowances.

As I said, the CAF needs decent, clean affordable housing to meet the needs of a career service member and not a bunch of crazy pay raise, retention pay and other bribes.
A nice house on a quiet street with room to raise kids, have a bbq, wash you car, play with your dog, have guests stay over, grow some vegetables. And be willing to pay a standard amount per month on an equity building basis just like everybody else. This is not too much to ask for housing, and it’s just plain sickening this is not available to most Canadians anymore.

Stuffing people into 450 sq ft thin walled apartments is not housing. It’s barely shelter and nothing more.

 

[JLB50]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/site-c-work-camp-demolition-end-of-life-1.7500296

Such a shame to see structures like these possibly going into landfill. Despite the expense of disassembly and moving, it could be a good, relatively fast solution for military housing or even those who are unhoused and on the street.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Meanwhile, at Site C....

1,700-bed Site C dam 'mini town' — complete with gym and movie theatre — could be headed to local landfill​

B.C. Hydro still looking for someone to take work camp as construction on electric dam comes to a close​

A massive, 1,700-person work camp paid for by B.C. taxpayers could be headed to the local landfill by the end of the year, a new report warns.

The accommodations were built to support construction of the Site C hydroelectric dam near Fort St. John in northeast B.C., which the province says is the largest public infrastructure project in B.C. history.

Opened in 2016 at a cost of $470 million for construction and eight years of operation, the camp includes a movie theatre, gymnasium, fitness centre, cafeteria and 21 three-storey dorms, each with about 80 rooms consisting of a bed and bathroom. Google reviews from people who've stayed there note a coffee shop and games room, outdoor fire pit and beer on tap at the bar.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/site-c-work-camp-demolition-end-of-life-1.7500296

 

[Cloud Cover]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/site-c-work-camp-demolition-end-of-life-1.7500296

Such a shame to see structures like these possibly going into landfill. Despite the expense of disassembly and moving, it could be a good, relatively fast solution for military housing or even those who are unhoused and on the street.

City of Vernon and Kelowna tried to buy this for our homeless. Province said no.

 

[ytz]

As I said, the CAF needs decent, clean affordable housing to meet the needs of a career service member and not a bunch of crazy pay raise, retention pay and other bribes.
A nice house on a quiet street with room to raise kids, have a bbq, wash you car, play with your dog, have guests stay over, grow some vegetables. And be willing to pay a standard amount per month on an equity building basis just like everybody else. This is not too much to ask for housing, and it’s just plain sickening this is not available to most Canadians anymore.

Stuffing people into 450 sq ft thin walled apartments is not housing. It’s barely shelter and nothing more.

Don't even need those houses. A lot of members stay in condos and apartments. This is especially true if you get posted to Europe. I think the CAF providing a 1000 sqft apartment for a family of 3 is just fine. I get that building neighbourhoods of single family detached, especially at our more urban locations (say Ottawa) could be expensive. But if you offered up 500 sqft apartments for $500/mo and 1000 sqft apartments for $1k per month, a whole lot of members would take that up and be extremely grateful. It would get them out of living with roomates. It would give them a bit more privacy and dignity. And it would let them save enough to be able to buy later. A huge problem right now is that Single Quarters are not available everywhere. And they don't tend to offer amenities like a kitchenette where you can cook. And PMQs are usually overkill for single members, married couples or even those with 1 kid.

 

[MilEME09]

As an example, heres a modular home company outside edmonton, I bet 250 million of these of various configs of two and three bedrooms would go a long way to helping at CFB Edmonton, truck them up to Cold lake, or Wainwright for install as well.

Our Homes - Modular Homes, Alberta & BC | Jandel Homes

Hand-selected modular homes for your Alberta or BC property. Modular, manufactured, RTM, cottage & cabins, portable accommodations and offices.

www.jandelhomes.com

 

[McG]

A huge problem right now is that Single Quarters are not available everywhere. And they don't tend to offer amenities like a kitchenette where you can cook.

What makes this worse is that we invested a tone of money building little hotels on every base when the local permanent living-in quarters met (or closely met) CAF published standards for transient quarters but fell far short of our published standards for permanent quarters. That kitchenette is an entitlement for permanent quarters. We don’t even discount R&Q rates for failing to provide rooms that meet that standard.

 

[McG]

.

 

[Cloud Cover]

Don't even need those houses. A lot of members stay in condos and apartments. This is especially true if you get posted to Europe. I think the CAF providing a 1000 sqft apartment for a family of 3 is just fine. I get that building neighbourhoods of single family detached, especially at our more urban locations (say Ottawa) could be expensive. But if you offered up 500 sqft apartments for $500/mo and 1000 sqft apartments for $1k per month, a whole lot of members would take that up and be extremely grateful. It would get them out of living with roomates. It would give them a bit more privacy and dignity. And it would let them save enough to be able to buy later. A huge problem right now is that Single Quarters are not available everywhere. And they don't tend to offer amenities like a kitchenette where you can cook. And PMQs are usually overkill for single members, married couples or even those with 1 kid.

All true. I was basing on married members with families.

 

[Cloud Cover]

Why not these for single quarters …

https://m.facebook.com/groups/337900817993577/permalink/996453628804956/?

As an example, heres a modular home company outside edmonton, I bet 250 million of these of various configs of two and three bedrooms would go a long way to helping at CFB Edmonton, truck them up to Cold lake, or Wainwright for install as well.

Our Homes - Modular Homes, Alberta & BC | Jandel Homes

Hand-selected modular homes for your Alberta or BC property. Modular, manufactured, RTM, cottage & cabins, portable accommodations and offices.

www.jandelhomes.com

 

[QV]

and surrender our sovereignty? that would be the first step towards trump trying to Annex us, saying europe is less aligned with our interests when the US unleashed a trade war on us is laughable. We have plenty of space, and labour we could set up a strong defense industrial base here.

If Canada does it's duty by being a good neighbor (protecting the north, defence spending, distance from China yada yada) there is no risk of annexation, we maintain sovereignty, improve trade.

If Canada severs ties with the US, status quo or worse with China, seeks more alignment with non-FVEY countries... than yes, our risk of annexation will go up by a lot because we are now more of national security risk to the US. We would end up as Puerto Rico of the North, a territory with no voting or citizenship rights.

 

[Czech_pivo]

If Canada does it's duty by being a good neighbor (protecting the north, defence spending, distance from China yada yada) there is no risk of annexation, we maintain sovereignty, improve trade.

If Canada severs ties with the US, status quo or worse with China, seeks more alignment with non-FVEY countries... than yes, our risk of annexation will go up by a lot because we are now more of national security risk to the US. We would end up as Puerto Rico of the North, a territory with no voting or citizenship rights.

I'd rather see this occur:
1) Protect the north
2) Bring defense spending up to around 2.25-2.30% of GDP
3) Do not integrate nor court China above what the current status is
4) Integrate into the EU defense armament process
5) Maintain current 5i status
6) Greater involvement within NATO, with 'like minded' Allies
7) Grow and support internal CDN defense capabilities - grow 'inhouse' ability to provide critical armaments (arty. arty barrels, arty shells, AD, drones, ballistic missile capability, IFV, etc)
8) Participate in the UK/Italy/Japan 6th fighter programme

I view it as the Carrot and Stick approach. Do a bit more than what the Americans are 'asking' us but actively look to integrate/participate with our other allies. If Americans say, please do 'X' amount, we do 'X+ 8-10%' more and then go about doing what we need to do for our own needs.

 

[Furniture]

What makes this worse is that we invested a tone of money building little hotels on every base when the local permanent living-in quarters met (or closely met) CAF published standards for transient quarters but fell far short of our published standards for permanent quarters. That kitchenette is an entitlement for permanent quarters. We don’t even discount R&Q rates for failing to provide rooms that meet that standard.

Sub-par live-in shacks are a feature not a bug. The CAF has been actively trying to get people off-base for at least the last 24 years.

It made some sense when housing was affordable, but after a few decades of housing as a primary investment, the GoC and CAF are shocked that people can't afford housing anymore.