Liberal (Minority/Majority) Government 2025 - ???

[FJAG]

Only because contracting for legal advice / legal support is even more convoluted than every other form of contracting

I must admit in all honesty that when I retired we went to live in a house by the lake and my only thoughts were about doing construction on it and taking off to Florida four months of the year. Working more was the last thing on my mind.

Since getting back into this writing and the gunner community - half of whom seem to be contractors - I have momentary thoughts. But even though I'm staying away from Florida I still like sleeping in and building the railroad.

 

[Eaglelord17]

An interesting , and expensive, fantasy-type project, particularly given the comparatively small tonnage few Canadian ports vs the US (it's hard to find clear data - one site classifies the likes of Parry Sound and Midland as 'major' shipping ports, which is touch laughable). Maybe we could enlarge the Canadian lock at SSM.

We should as it is clear the reason for the initial building of those locks still exists.

We created the Canadian side locks because the Americans denied us transit of our ships with troops on them to go fight the Northwest Rebellion so they had to completely disembark with all the stores and equipment, portage the equipment above the rapids, and re-embark after the locks.

Nation building is expensive, but maintaining sovereignty comes with a cost.

I am tired of Canada being insistant on being someones puppet state. Our country is the most gifted on the planet in terms of location, resources, and population. Yet somehow we squander that.

 

[brihard]

I must admit in all honesty that when I retired we went to live in a house by the lake and my only thoughts were about doing construction on it and taking off to Florida four months of the year. Working more was the last thing on my mind.

Since getting back into this writing and the gunner community - half of whom seem to be contractors - I have momentary thoughts. But even though I'm staying away from Florida I still like sleeping in and building the railroad.

At any given point in time I have a fair bit of karma to balance out, so I won’t reply to the retired lawyer with a crack about ‘depends’.

 

[Halifax Tar]

I am tired of Canada being insistant on being someones puppet state. Our country is the most gifted on the planet in terms of location, resources, and population. Yet somehow we squander that.

Bang on.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Bang on.

The only thing to fear, is the fear of success!

 

[Altair]

We should as it is clear the reason for the initial building of those locks still exists.

We created the Canadian side locks because the Americans denied us transit of our ships with troops on them to go fight the Northwest Rebellion so they had to completely disembark with all the stores and equipment, portage the equipment above the rapids, and re-embark after the locks.

Nation building is expensive, but maintaining sovereignty comes with a cost.

I am tired of Canada being insistant on being someones puppet state. Our country is the most gifted on the planet in terms of location, resources, and population. Yet somehow we squander that.

I'm very confused.

Spending billions to build infrastructure that doesnt currently exist but would get a fair bit of use is too expensive for some (HSR), but spending billions to build infrastructure that is redundant and will likely not be used except in the most extreme of circumstances is nation building?

 

[Eaglelord17]

I'm very confused.

Spending billions to build infrastructure that doesnt currently exist but would get a fair bit of use is too expensive for some (HSR), but spending billions to build infrastructure that is redundant and will likely not be used except in the most extreme of circumstances is nation building?

Considering the States is currently upgrading their side of the locks and we want to open up the ring of fire, yes that is nation building. There is demand, if we choose to be a part of it is the question.

I am also a big proponent of railways, across the whole country. The amount we spend on roads if spent on railways would give us a much better return on a more environmentally friendly and safe method of transportation.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Defence expenditures aren't nation-building; they're nation-preserving. The necessary and sufficient conditions for a society are the means and will to defend it.

 

[MilEME09]

Defence expenditures aren't nation-building; they're nation-preserving. The necessary and sufficient conditions for a society are the means and will to defend it.

Although the arguement can be made some projects are nation building when they have duel use. Example shipyards, ports

 

[Brad Sallows]

Although the arguement can be made some projects are nation building when they have duel use. Example shipyards, ports

We might have to cede some of the usual ground here to secure the assets against sabotage and other attack. I would rather place large areas completely off-limits than expend a bunch of resources trying to find ways to fit dual-use in without compromising security.

 

[lenaitch]

I guess I see a line between absolute sovereignty in all matters, simply for its own sake, and mutually beneficial cooperation with a neighbour who, up until fairly recently, treated us as an ally and with a degree of respect. If we want to spend billions on building locks and dredging channels that parallel that which already exists, simply to say they're ours, strikes me as sovereignty without economic reality. Unless we would plan to legislatively force Canadian flagged ships to use 'our side', it would probably devolve into a rate war that we likely couldn't win.

As for railways, we had more, then they became uneconomical. The major carriers can move more in a 2km long train that it predecessors could even dream of. So long as they are private, for-profit companies, they will build or expand when their current infrastructure is maxed-out. Passenger rail could be better, but with our population distribution and density, we ain't going back to the 'golden age of train travel' anytime soon.

 

[Eaglelord17]

As for railways, we had more, then they became uneconomical. The major carriers can move more in a 2km long train that it predecessors could even dream of. So long as they are private, for-profit companies, they will build or expand when their current infrastructure is maxed-out. Passenger rail could be better, but with our population distribution and density, we ain't going back to the 'golden age of train travel' anytime soon.

Yeah good in theory, corporate welfare says differently in practice.

They intentionally let things get to a bad point (i.e. not spending on maintenance/expansion, rather taking that money and spending on themselves), at which point the government steps in and pays for it because it is a critical capacity.

Private doesn't mean well run, as much as some seem to think it does. It just means they take all the money they can out of it. Remember my profits, our losses...

 

[lenaitch]

Yeah good in theory, corporate welfare says differently in practice.

They intentionally let things get to a bad point (i.e. not spending on maintenance/expansion, rather taking that money and spending on themselves), at which point the government steps in and pays for it because it is a critical capacity.

Private doesn't mean well run, as much as some seem to think it does. It just means they take all the money they can out of it. Remember my profits, our losses...

Other than money for safety upgrades at crossings and other specific initiatives, and money they have given to some shortlines, does the federal government bail out the Class 1 roads for maintenance, expansion or operating expenses?

 

[Jarnhamar]

Bit of buyers remorse maybe?

Federal officials on the defensive as momentum grows against lawful access bill

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-officials-on-the-defensive-as-momentum-grows-against-lawful-access-bill-9.7206179

Nicole Giles, deputy director of policy and strategic partnerships at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said during a recent interview.

"Canada is the only Five Eyes country without a lawful access regime..."

Either the deputy director of policy and strategic partnerships at CSIS somehow doesn't know Canada already has a lawful access regime or they're ripping a page out of the firearms ban book and hoping Canadians don't fact check.

 

[HavokFour]

EU Parliament passed the final vote, it's official now.

Canada joining SAFE defence borrowing pact will help firms compete: Anand

The European Parliament has formally welcomed Canada into the SAFE defence borrowing agreement, something Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says is an important step for the country.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[Czech_pivo]

EU Parliament passed the final vote, it's official now.

Canada joining SAFE defence borrowing pact will help firms compete: Anand

The European Parliament has formally welcomed Canada into the SAFE defence borrowing agreement, something Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says is an important step for the country.

www.ctvnews.ca

And then what?

What are the 3 possible large contracts that could from this?

 

[The Bread Guy]

Bit of buyers remorse maybe?

Federal officials on the defensive as momentum grows against lawful access bill

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-officials-on-the-defensive-as-momentum-grows-against-lawful-access-bill-9.7206179

Either the deputy director of policy and strategic partnerships at CSIS somehow doesn't know Canada already has a lawful access regime or they're ripping a page out of the firearms ban book and hoping Canadians don't fact check.

What a difference the choice of noun and lack of an adjective can make

 

[PPCLI Guy]

And then what?

What are the 3 possible large contracts that could from this?

This is significant. Canada is the only country outside of the EU (including the UK) that was invited to join SAFE.

Prime Minister Carney secures Canada’s participation in the European Union’s SAFE initiative

As EU countries strengthen their defence capabilities through SAFE, Canadian participation will give our defence industry expanded access to the European market, attract new reliable suppliers for the Canadian Armed Forces, and catalyse massive private investment in Canada – creating...

www.pm.gc.ca

This gains Canadian defence manufacturers easier access to European markets. The sad truth is that both investors and the CAF prefer dealing with companies that already have products on the market. This market access tool will build the Defence Industrial Base that the CAF needs for resilience, readiness, and rapid procure / deploy.

Not every move is designed for a quick win...especially if you have severely atrophied the industrial infrastructure over the last 50 years.

 

[Czech_pivo]

This is significant. Canada is the only country outside of the EU (including the UK) that was invited to join SAFE.

Prime Minister Carney secures Canada’s participation in the European Union’s SAFE initiative

As EU countries strengthen their defence capabilities through SAFE, Canadian participation will give our defence industry expanded access to the European market, attract new reliable suppliers for the Canadian Armed Forces, and catalyse massive private investment in Canada – creating...

www.pm.gc.ca

This gains Canadian defence manufacturers easier access to European markets. The sad truth is that both investors and the CAF prefer dealing with companies that already have products on the market. This market access tool will build the Defence Industrial Base that the CAF needs for resilience, readiness, and rapid procure / deploy.

Not every move is designed for a quick win...especially if you have severely atrophied the industrial infrastructure over the last 50 years.

Thanks for that more in depth explanation. Let's hope that we are able to execute on it going forward.

 

[YZT580]

This is significant. Canada is the only country outside of the EU (including the UK) that was invited to join SAFE.

Prime Minister Carney secures Canada’s participation in the European Union’s SAFE initiative

As EU countries strengthen their defence capabilities through SAFE, Canadian participation will give our defence industry expanded access to the European market, attract new reliable suppliers for the Canadian Armed Forces, and catalyse massive private investment in Canada – creating...

www.pm.gc.ca

This gains Canadian defence manufacturers easier access to European markets. The sad truth is that both investors and the CAF prefer dealing with companies that already have products on the market. This market access tool will build the Defence Industrial Base that the CAF needs for resilience, readiness, and rapid procure / deploy.

Not every move is designed for a quick win...especially if you have severely atrophied the industrial infrastructure over the last 50 years.

now how quickly can we spin up munitions manufacturing. Everyone seems to be jumping on the drone bandwagon so munitions systems would seem to be the way to go.