- Reaction score
- 13,299
- Points
- 1,160
It’ll be creating a new ministry with startlingly unconstrained power to procure. It’ll be something to watch.
I hope.

It’ll be creating a new ministry with startlingly unconstrained power to procure. It’ll be something to watch.
Nailed it, IMHO... pun intended
A Hammer Without a Handshake
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A Hammer Without a Handshake - Open Canada
Canada is expanding its military ambitions while weakening the diplomatic capacity needed to carry them out.opencanada.org
Probably not the worst thing considering what has come out of Global Affairs in the last 10 years
Matt makes the hammer meet the nail
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Matt Gurney: Watch out, Canada. Trump is about to start softening us up
Scrapping a U.S.-Canada defence forum is fair — we have been negligent. But the timing is the most interesting part. Expect more moves like this.www.readtheline.ca
First of all, and this will annoy the Elbows Uppers to no end, the undersecretary’s comments are, fundamentally, accurate. Canada has indeed massively underinvested in defence and has also prioritized rhetoric over reality. I completely understand why Canadians hate admitting this — I hate admitting this. Having your flaws pointed out to you by someone you dislike is always a mortifying experience.
If this was last year sure, but the last several months we have been putting money where our mouth is, so the timing of these comments is odd for sure. One look at DLRs sharepoint and we can see a lot of projects happening now, and expensive ones at that. Starting next year, there will be major renewal in the CAF.Matt makes the hammer meet the nail
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Matt Gurney: Watch out, Canada. Trump is about to start softening us up
Scrapping a U.S.-Canada defence forum is fair — we have been negligent. But the timing is the most interesting part. Expect more moves like this.www.readtheline.ca
First of all, and this will annoy the Elbows Uppers to no end, the undersecretary’s comments are, fundamentally, accurate. Canada has indeed massively underinvested in defence and has also prioritized rhetoric over reality. I completely understand why Canadians hate admitting this — I hate admitting this. Having your flaws pointed out to you by someone you dislike is always a mortifying experience.
True statements for the past 30-40yrs but, what will they say come July/August when we announce the sub contract? Can they continue to say these things?Matt makes the hammer meet the nail
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Matt Gurney: Watch out, Canada. Trump is about to start softening us up
Scrapping a U.S.-Canada defence forum is fair — we have been negligent. But the timing is the most interesting part. Expect more moves like this.www.readtheline.ca
First of all, and this will annoy the Elbows Uppers to no end, the undersecretary’s comments are, fundamentally, accurate. Canada has indeed massively underinvested in defence and has also prioritized rhetoric over reality. I completely understand why Canadians hate admitting this — I hate admitting this. Having your flaws pointed out to you by someone you dislike is always a mortifying experience.
Yes, america was pitching we were dependent, now they are complaining we are becoming independent. Namely because we want to buy less American, so does everyone but they seem to be incapable of self reflection to realize this. Just almost canadians couldn't eitherTrue statements for the past 30-40yrs but, what will they say come July/August when we announce the sub contract? Can they continue to say these things?
I'll just take solace in this quote:
"A good friend will always stab you in the front." - Oscar Wilde
I think it's funny that some think and expected our reputation to be 180'd by some announcements and a claim of 2% with little in the way of actual ideliverables.
We deserve that stab in the front. I hope it and what follows wakes us up and make Canada more independent.
True statements for the past 30-40yrs but, what will they say come July/August when we announce the sub contract? Can they continue to say these things?
We've already been stabbed in the back and in the front. How many more knives would be appropriate?I think it's funny that some think and expected our reputation to be 180'd by some announcements and a claim of 2% with little in the way of actual ideliverables.
We deserve that stab in the front. I hope it and what follows wakes us up and make Canada more independent.
Have you ever set a dried out Christmas tree on fire? Flares up real fast, burns hot for about two minutes and then fades to nothing. Well meet the government of Canada. The only reason we bought tanks was to keep our seat at the table. The only reason we are at 2% is because the pressure that Donald brought to bear was actually an ultimatum: put up or else. Now are we flaring like the pine or are we building a good solid hardwood fire. The rhetoric is good, the actions are good but I suspect there is a lot of skepticism on our allies' part.If this was last year sure, but the last several months we have been putting money where our mouth is, so the timing of these comments is odd for sure. One look at DLRs sharepoint and we can see a lot of projects happening now, and expensive ones at that. Starting next year, there will be major renewal in the CAF.
If we wanted to show we were serious we would have ordered them months ago. The navy knows which one is best-suited for our needs but Ottawa has demonstrated that they are more interested in the best deal than the best sub although we could end up with both. We need at least 2 more support ships: if we were serious they would be on order. We need combat vessels now but we are talking about putting something together for next year. Why, possibly because maybe by next year the pressure will have faded and we can get out of it. Our dealings with China can't be adding much confidence to our allies (nor is the U.S. stance I might add).True statements for the past 30-40yrs but, what will they say come July/August when we announce the sub contract? Can they continue to say these things?
If we really wanted to play the 'grab a headline' game with Trump and his merry band of men, we'd announce the new sub contract on July 3rd, the day before their 4th of July celebrations.
Lot's of truth in that statement.Have you ever set a dried out Christmas tree on fire? Flares up real fast, burns hot for about two minutes and then fades to nothing. Well meet the government of Canada. The only reason we bought tanks was to keep our seat at the table. The only reason we are at 2% is because the pressure that Donald brought to bear was actually an ultimatum: put up or else. Now are we flaring like the pine or are we building a good solid hardwood fire. The rhetoric is good, the actions are good but I suspect there is a lot of skepticism on our allies' part.
The process for the subs has been a miracle to achieve what they have so far, in the grand scheme of things, it occurring 2 months ago vs 2 months from now truly means nothing in the grand scheme of all that is occurring.If we wanted to show we were serious we would have ordered them months ago. The navy knows which one is best-suited for our needs but Ottawa has demonstrated that they are more interested in the best deal than the best sub although we could end up with both. We need at least 2 more support ships: if we were serious they would be on order. We need combat vessels now but we are talking about putting something together for next year. Why, possibly because maybe by next year the pressure will have faded and we can get out of it. Our dealings with China can't be adding much confidence to our allies (nor is the U.S. stance I might add).
Your comments are noted. We are worrying too much, perhaps, on keeping our current members of the NSS occupied. As things stand, that really shouldn't be a problem nor does it require bringing another shipyard into the group although we do need that other yard. Consider, if we tell Irving to start building another type it they will have to expand drastically to achieve it; even if they are simply welding modules together. Once we get caught up on needs their output will be reduced to replacement/maintenance only which will reduce employment and start mothballing skills again. Better perhaps to identify what is wanted and go to VARD/Ontario Shipyards and say build me a fleet of these ASAP and no, you are not part of the NSS this is a one and done contract. Eventually we should be able to start a parallel build in Halifax but only after a couple of destroyers have been delivered.The process for the subs has been a miracle to achieve what they have so far, in the grand scheme of things, it occurring 2 months ago vs 2 months from now truly means nothing in the grand scheme of all that is occurring.
I agree that a decision for 1, 2 or 3 more JSS should be moved to the front of the line. But this aligns with the current issues surrounding the proposed CDC project - who and when can they be built. With Seaspan moving to 1 of the 2 'major' icebreakers being built and them having 16 'medium' icebreakers next on the runway, how could they possibly build another JSS? Some group within the CAF or whoever, needs to figure out how we bring another shipbuilder(s) into the fold. Whether they are a complete 'end to end' builder or a 'block/modular' builder is the open question.
Lastly, our 'dealings with China' is no different than France's dealings with China or Germany's or the UK's or, heaven forbid, the US's dealings with them. Please don't think our's is any closer than the countries that I've mentioned above.