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....

 

[dimsum]

I still think CAF members should be issued personal weapons they retain throughout their career. Likewise in most cases with STANO.

That might be feasible with the Army and certain parts of the Air Force (even then, probably a stretch), but I can't see that working out on a ship.

 

[Jarnhamar]

That might be feasible with the Army and certain parts of the Air Force (even then, probably a stretch), but I can't see that working out on a ship.

How come? (never been on a ship)

 

[Weinie]

I’d actually love to see them literally set up a separate, small table for Canada to sit by itself.

And the table would be turned around, pointing into the carbon-free future corner.

 

[Brad Sallows]

I suppose that most progressives in Canada have no intention of getting to (true) communism. The closest they want to approach is a hefty welfare state, with themselves in charge, living comfortably. If they even went as far as the USSR, they'd still intend to be part of the dacha-owning class; it would not do to merely live in a state-assigned apartment like everyone else. They could do that right now, if that was truly where their political/social sentiments lie. They could wear baggy, ill-fitting suits; take another look at our leaders. I've never had to scratch one very deeply to find someone who thinks he "deserves" everything he's been able to achieve on the foundation of winning the birth lottery for aptitude with language and/or numbers. Just observe one long enough to see what he says about people born less fortunate in that respect.

 

[OldSolduer]

I suppose that most progressives in Canada have no intention of getting to (true) communism. The closest they want to approach is a hefty welfare state, with themselves in charge, living comfortably. If they even went as far as the USSR, they'd still intend to be part of the dacha-owning class; it would not do to merely live in a state-assigned apartment like everyone else. They could do that right now, if that was truly where their political/social sentiments lie. They could wear baggy, ill-fitting suits; take another look at our leaders. I've never had to scratch one very deeply to find someone who thinks he "deserves" everything he's been able to achieve on the foundation of winning the birth lottery for aptitude with language and/or numbers. Just observe one long enough to see what he says about people born less fortunate in that respect.

You’ve described Soviet Communism very well. When the “progressives” start rebelling then that’s when the secret policeman’s knock happens….

 

[Weinie]

I suppose that most progressives in Canada have no intention of getting to (true) communism. The closest they want to approach is a hefty welfare state, with themselves in charge, living comfortably. If they even went as far as the USSR, they'd still intend to be part of the dacha-owning class; it would not do to merely live in a state-assigned apartment like everyone else. They could do that right now, if that was truly where their political/social sentiments lie. They could wear baggy, ill-fitting suits; take another look at our leaders. I've never had to scratch one very deeply to find someone who thinks he "deserves" everything he's been able to achieve on the foundation of winning the birth lottery for aptitude with language and/or numbers. Just observe one long enough to see what he says about people born less fortunate in that respect.

This. Them vs. Us

 

[Halifax Tar]

How come? (never been on a ship)

Space.

 

[Kirkhill]

Space.

Bigger ships. With lockers. And separate heads.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Bigger ships. With lockers. And separate heads.

And sharks with frickin lazers.... I'll believe it when I see it...

 

[Remius]

And sharks with frickin lazers.... I'll believe it when I see it...

Small submersibles. One per man.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Space.

If sailors don't bring personal weapons on to a ship could they store them at their respective HQs and CQ buildings?

 

[Halifax Tar]

If sailors don't bring personal weapons on to a ship could they store them at their respective HQs and CQ buildings?

That capacity would be more doable. But the space currently does not exist so either we need to create new vaults or steal space and convert.

Honestly I'm not sure it's necessary. I think equalizing SA proficiency and marksmanship with fitness requirements would be adequate.

A simple emphasis on basic operation and marksmanship on the standard service rifle and side arm would be adequate.

 

[Quirky]

I still think CAF members should be issued personal weapons they retain throughout their career. Likewise in most cases with STANO.

HANDGUNFORGEN?

While I agree with the concept, I wouldn't trust some people with a screw driver, nevermind an issued pistol. I wouldn't give our members that much personal responsibility. It's why we have a tool control program and even with all the policies in place, planes still go flying with wrenches in internal compartments.

 

[Jarnhamar]

That capacity would be more doable. But the space currently does not exist so either we need to create new vaults or steal space and convert.

Honestly I'm not sure it's necessary. I think equalizing SA proficiency and marksmanship with fitness requirements would be adequate.

A simple emphasis on basic operation and marksmanship on the standard service rifle and side arm would be adequate.

The problem is a lot of CAF members treat their weapons and equipment like trash. There's no accountability. They'll hand carry their personal laptops or game consoles like a first born child but throw and pile their rifles in the back of a truck like firewood.

There's been a few times my unit's been told to hand over STANO to the reserves to support their summer training and the kit comes back absolutely trashed and missing parts. Other reg force units aren't as bad in my experience (likely due to the close proximity of the lenders) but the same shit still happens.

Finding space would be easy, just make it a no fail task

 

[Kilted]

Make Canada sit with Iceland. No scratch that, at least Iceland has no illusions and would likely be insulted that they had the freeloaders of freeloaders foisted upon them.

They are also one of the few countries to have ever been occupied by Canada.

 

[dapaterson]

There's been a few times my unit's been told to hand over STANO to the reserves to support their summer training and the kit comes back absolutely trashed and missing parts. Other reg force units aren't as bad in my experience (likely due to the close proximity of the lenders) but the same shit still happens.

Having been on the other side, lending eqpt to the Reg F from a Res F unit, let me reassure you that it works both ways.

 

[OldSolduer]

Having been on the other side, lending eqpt to the Reg F from a Res F unit, let me reassure you that it works both ways.

Bingo!!!!

 

[IKnowNothing]

The NDP are nothing but Communists who aren’t in a hurry.

It's funny. I (and I don't think you) would consider the Scandinavian social democracies Communists, and a lot of the program initiatives that the NDP pushes would fit well with that model being the "goal"- and personally that's a goal I whole heartedly agree with.

But there's just a sort of- idealistic out of touchness- about the NDP that I detest.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Not much point being strongly committed to supplying tasked eqpt in working order with full EIS if the school staff responsible aren't as committed to returning it in same condition.

 

[Halifax Tar]

The problem is a lot of CAF members treat their weapons and equipment like trash. There's no accountability. They'll hand carry their personal laptops or game consoles like a first born child but throw and pile their rifles in the back of a truck like firewood.

There's been a few times my unit's been told to hand over STANO to the reserves to support their summer training and the kit comes back absolutely trashed and missing parts. Other reg force units aren't as bad in my experience (likely due to the close proximity of the lenders) but the same shit still happens.

Finding space would be easy, just make it a no fail task

The key word is accountability. We have policy for this.