I'll believe it when I see it.
Justin Trudeau hints at boosting Canada’s military spending
- Thread starter Maxman1
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September 6, 2023 – Defence Stories
Many of you will have heard by now about efforts underway by the Government of Canada to bring the growth of government spending back to a pre-pandemic path. This was announced in Budget 2023 [Chapter 6: Effective Government and a Fair Tax System | Budget 2023], and is an important – and necessary – initiative, to ensure that Canadians’ tax dollars are being used efficiently.
As one of the largest federal departments, National Defence has an important role to play in effective and efficient government operations. Early efforts are now underway across the Defence Team to address our part in this initiative by developing spending reduction options. Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance) is leading this exercise in consultation with Level 1 organizations.
Reductions related to operating expenditures will be phased in over three years and are not expected to result in job losses outside of normal attrition, or reallocation, ensuring that our people’s work is focused on high-priority initiatives. Similarly, reductions identified related to professional services and travel will have no impact on employment levels. The extent of impact is yet to be confirmed.
This exercise is distinct from the Defence Policy Update process announced in Budget 2022 [Chapter 5: Canada’s Leadership in the World | Budget 2022], which is still underway.
Expenditure reviews are an essential part of responsible management, and we all have a role to play in finding ways to deliver the best results for Canadians. This will entail hard decisions. However, this is not about doing more with less or arbitrary cost-cutting. It is about ensuring the defence budget is directed toward top defence and government priorities; and in an increasingly dangerous world, ensuring this will not negatively impact the ability of the CAF to perform its functions — keeping Canadians safe and contributing to international security.
For this, we are counting on your support as we move forward this fall with priorities for review.
We are committed to communicating clearly and regularly on the progress and scope of this important work.
Bill Matthews Deputy Minister
General Wayne Eyre Chief of the Defence Staff
Many of you will have heard by now about efforts underway by the Government of Canada to bring the growth of government spending back to a pre-pandemic path. This was announced in Budget 2023 [Chapter 6: Effective Government and a Fair Tax System | Budget 2023], and is an important – and necessary – initiative, to ensure that Canadians’ tax dollars are being used efficiently.
As one of the largest federal departments, National Defence has an important role to play in effective and efficient government operations. Early efforts are now underway across the Defence Team to address our part in this initiative by developing spending reduction options. Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance) is leading this exercise in consultation with Level 1 organizations.
Reductions related to operating expenditures will be phased in over three years and are not expected to result in job losses outside of normal attrition, or reallocation, ensuring that our people’s work is focused on high-priority initiatives. Similarly, reductions identified related to professional services and travel will have no impact on employment levels. The extent of impact is yet to be confirmed.
This exercise is distinct from the Defence Policy Update process announced in Budget 2022 [Chapter 5: Canada’s Leadership in the World | Budget 2022], which is still underway.
Expenditure reviews are an essential part of responsible management, and we all have a role to play in finding ways to deliver the best results for Canadians. This will entail hard decisions. However, this is not about doing more with less or arbitrary cost-cutting. It is about ensuring the defence budget is directed toward top defence and government priorities; and in an increasingly dangerous world, ensuring this will not negatively impact the ability of the CAF to perform its functions — keeping Canadians safe and contributing to international security.
For this, we are counting on your support as we move forward this fall with priorities for review.
We are committed to communicating clearly and regularly on the progress and scope of this important work.
Bill Matthews Deputy Minister
General Wayne Eyre Chief of the Defence Staff
Unsurprisingly the mods on reddit didn't let this one see the light of day
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When they say things like that, we all know that it means the opposite.
"Don't "retreat" into release, but step up and do your part for the CAF(with less)"
Eye In The Sky
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The subject title to the email; “DM/CDS Message: Reductions to Defence spending”
What an absolute clown show this govt is…
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Well I just saw something interesting a few minutes back.
I live in south-east Burlington (ON) about 3/4 of a mile (yes, I still use miles, feet, inches, Fahrenheit) from L. Ontario. While out walking my dog over my lunch hour, at 12:08pm a Chinook flew over my head on its way towards Hamilton. The only place that I could think would make sense it was flying to was the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum attached to Hamilton International Airport. Of course it could be flying elsewhere. In 14yrs I've lived in Burlington I believe that this is the first time I've seen a Chinook fly overhead here.
I live in south-east Burlington (ON) about 3/4 of a mile (yes, I still use miles, feet, inches, Fahrenheit) from L. Ontario. While out walking my dog over my lunch hour, at 12:08pm a Chinook flew over my head on its way towards Hamilton. The only place that I could think would make sense it was flying to was the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum attached to Hamilton International Airport. Of course it could be flying elsewhere. In 14yrs I've lived in Burlington I believe that this is the first time I've seen a Chinook fly overhead here.
QV
Army.ca Veteran
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Fundamental difference right there between the CAF and US military (based on my
When you leave the US Marine Corps after 3 years: "HUAAA once a Marine always a Marine! Here is your GI Bill!"
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I would say we in the CAF are the main issue with this. The second the member has their final release appointment, we view them as VAC's problem for the most part. A lot of times, when someone wants to move on, it's seen as a slight against the whole than something we should laud the individual for. I remember an old SSM's words clearly on this:
"No one stays in the CAF forever, we all go back to being Mr./Mrs. Bloggins eventually."
But this is also a massively shitty take to have when it comes to members releasing. There shouldnt be a severing of fraternal or tribal links are by the institution and it left to the various individual members, branch or regimental associations, or other service organizations (RCL, ANAF, ANAVETS,) to pick up the pieces.
I honestly would love to see units reach out to those who part ways and invite them to unit functions as well, rather than have our little echo chamber of folks who are still on the company payroll.
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Ordering your own Army and CAF certificates of service, and having no communication about your release from your higher CoC after putting in your release after 30+ years of service enter the conversation.
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…it’s not like they made you process your own release. Sheesh, cut them some slack…
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Don’t be too sure…it’s not like they made you process your own release. Sheesh, cut them some slack…
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The CAF looks at everyone as a 25-year career. The US military looks at most enlistees as a one-posting commitment - they are trying to put through as many people as they can, expecting most to leave.
Hence the “up or out” which means folks aren’t incentivized to specialize and be SMEs. If you are a superstar AVN Tech and want to keep turning wrenches your entire career - guess what, you can’t do that in the US military. You have to be promoted within a few cycles or you get punted with zero benefits.
FJAG
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I've always thought that a blend of both systems is the way to go. Plan on short career cycles for most (and set up the recruiting and training systems accordingly) but have a role for the long haul specialists even if they aren't the up or out types. There is a place for master captains and career corporals. This is one reason I like the US warrant officer system - it's not the same idea but one that looks at technical expertise and leadership without the need for a uni education nor the carrying of a baton in a knapsack.
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There have been several attempts to redirect the stream down here.
One can hide in certain places (for instance you aren’t getting Up or Out’s in SOCOM) but the Big Services have institutional issues when they try to look at revamping.
The Big Army training system has looked at making some WO positions (again no push for OoO) for what have historically SNCO billets, but that also involves then changing courses to let SME’s take longer with students. Which course length changes then require the whole readiness system to change.
It’s the butterfly effect and I don’t see any willingness at the highest levels to deal with it.
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In your opinion is the CAF or US system better as a whole?
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Trick Question
Honestly I think the Canadian training system was better in terms of training an individual for their task in the 80-Y2K years. I haven’t had any interaction with the Canadian system since 2004, but at least on the Infantry side, the robust depth of experience had started to erode due to ORBAT and some course changes.
At the NCO level the knowledge level was very deep due to Cbt Spt Platoon courses, and the fact that even on the lighter experience with a MCPL Section Commander and a Cpl 2I/c they had likely been in trade for 8+years and had several different experiences across a BN. I really don’t know how true that is anymore.
I do know that in talking to several folks I used to serve with that the Airborne and Light skills have been severely hurt in Canada, but that has been a direct result from the structural changes that the CA has endorsed itself to.
While a great deal of effort has been made down here to make a better training system at the end of the day the system down here survives solely due to numbers and support.
A lot of line serials start outside the rifle squad in OJT positions. A Sniper Det for instance is one area where the US Army doesn’t have a deep pool of experience.
Even Instructor Cadre at Sniper School don’t have the same depth of experience at a typical CA Sniper Det has. But the Army (etc) down here does have equipment, which often makes up for the experience deficit.
I’d really like to have a hybrid system taking the best aspects of both, that has a high intake, and high equipment support, but has longer courses, a slower promotion system and a better SME creation and retention process.
The USMC is closer to this, but outside of SOCOM it really doesn’t exist down here.
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Don’t worry Kev, I’m sure the next Light Force Working Group will get it all sorted and CCA will embrace and implement the LFWG’s recommendations.
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Ha. Ha. Ha…
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