Liberal Minority Government 2025 - ???

[dapaterson]

An all-weather road would be a bloody slog. Unforgiving terrain up there. Mostly swamps and bogs.

Which is a major rail maintenance issue.

 

[Czech_pivo]

An all-weather road would be a bloody slog. Unforgiving terrain up there. Mostly swamps and bogs.

Understood but is the terrain substantially different than what we just went through in putting a road from Inuvik to Tuk?

 

[GR66]

Just one point, Humphrey: You can't go that way for the Arctic Resupply route. The way you show can only go to Iklulik. The passage between that route and Baffin Island is unnavigable, so the Arctic resupply route still has to go around Baffin island. That is the reason why St John's is as good a support base for the Arctic as Churchill would be: there is no distance steamed advantage.

Fury and Hecla Strait - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Technically navigable in the right conditions?

 

[HavokFour]

The polling on holding a referendum is interesting, it seems PQ gaining popularity has little to do with separatism and mostly just a dislike for the current state of other the parties in the province.

Yes: 29%
No: 62%
Undecided: 9%

The PQ might end up shooting themselves in the foot if they go any harder than they already are towards a referendum.

https://qc125.com/proj/2026-01-28-leger.pdf

 

[Czech_pivo]

Fury and Hecla Strait - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Technically navigable in the right conditions?

Is the issue/concern - ice or depths or both?

 

[Czech_pivo]

An all-weather road would be a bloody slog. Unforgiving terrain up there. Mostly swamps and bogs.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/churchill-build-road-engineer-1.4174034

9yrs ago.....

 

[Kirkhill]

An all-weather road would be a bloody slog. Unforgiving terrain up there. Mostly swamps and bogs.

Overseas Highway - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This Gulf Coast Scenic Byway Is The Road Trip Of A Lifetime

Alabama's Coastal Connection highlights the biodiversity of the delta region, from pine forests to barrier islands, while stopping through charming towns.

www.worldatlas.com

Bet You Didn’t Know These 7 Things About the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge

Everyone in south Louisiana drives over it, but not everyone knows these facts.

1033thegoat.com

Worse than these?

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Fury and Hecla Strait - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Technically navigable in the right conditions?

Is the issue/concern - ice or depths or both?

Both.

Some sections of the strait are very shallow, from a merchant ship point of view or a heavy icebreaker point of view. This is complicated by the fact that there are weird currents and wind effects in the strait due to very large tidal effects and wind tunnel effects, and finally, it accumulates ice in the summer like crazy, in view of the narrowing here and there. As that ice piles up on top of itself, it quickly becomes way too much even for icebreakers.

Five or six years ago (IIRC, could be a little longer) CCGS Terry Fox and Des Groseillers tried escorting a merchant ship through there. Almost right off the bat, the merchant ship realized it wouldn't work when Terry Fox got itself stuck a few kilometers ahead and the path cleared by Des Groseillers closed itself behind her as fast as she opened it. The merchant, which was just getting in the edge of the ice, managed to get itself out and went the long way around Baffin Island, but TF and DG were stuck there trying to work themselves out for a couple of days.

 

[MilEME09]

Another team Trudeau pushed out, and happy to see him gone

Bill Blair resigning seat, will become next high commissioner to U.K.

Bill Blair resigning seat, will become next high commissioner to U.K.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Will he try to sell them on gun buy-backs?

 

[dapaterson]

Another team Trudeau pushed out, and happy to see him gone

Bill Blair resigning seat, will become next high commissioner to U.K.

Bill Blair resigning seat, will become next high commissioner to U.K.

www.ctvnews.ca

Mostly safe seat. Will be interesting to see who gets the nomination. This is the slow Carney-fication of the House.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Another team Trudeau pushed out, and happy to see him gone

Bill Blair resigning seat, will become next high commissioner to U.K.

Bill Blair resigning seat, will become next high commissioner to U.K.

www.ctvnews.ca

I'm sure that the Met would love to hear about his stories as Chief of Police for the TPS.

 

[Furniture]

Saying that soldiers won't serve where the government sends them is a weak argument.

Ignoring the reality that in an all volunteer force, soldiers/sailors/air humans get a say in whether or not they want to go, and then stay somewhere, is a weaker argument. You can't hand wave away inconvenient realities.

If the CAF wants to send people to live full-time in the North, the CAF will need to incentivize it somehow, and it will not be cheap.

 

[dapaterson]

Ignoring the reality that in an all volunteer force, soldiers/sailors/air humans get a say in whether or not they want to go, and then stay somewhere, is a weaker argument. You can't hand wave away inconvenient realities.

If the CAF wants to send people to live full-time in the North, the CAF will need to incentivize it somehow, and it will not be cheap.

CAF pays includes a significant "military factor" to compensate for mobility (among other elements).

Understanding military pay - Canada.ca

How pay rates are determined for ranks, occupations, and types of service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Special Forces, including the Reserves.

www.canada.ca

 

[daftandbarmy]

Another team Trudeau pushed out, and happy to see him gone

Bill Blair resigning seat, will become next high commissioner to U.K.

Bill Blair resigning seat, will become next high commissioner to U.K.

www.ctvnews.ca

AI summary of the issues in play.

Based on past performance - my guess is he'll be out of his depth and quickly overwhelmed and trampled by the British (get the lettuce ready) and withdrawn early to retire....


As of early 2026, the Canadian High Commissioner to the UK, with Bill Blair set to succeed Ralph Goodale, faces challenges centered on stalled trade negotiations, particularly regarding agricultural access. Other key issues involve navigating a competitive London market, strengthening post-Brexit ties, and aligning with the new UK government after previous negotiations hit roadblocks over food regulations.

Key Challenges and Issues:

Stalled Trade Negotiations: A major issue has been the pause in trade talks, which were halted over unresolved agricultural access issues between the two countries.

Post-Brexit Economic Relations: Following the UK's departure from the EU, the High Commissioner must navigate a new, complex economic landscape to ensure favorable terms for Canada.

Intense Competition in London: The UK market is described as "overheated" and highly competitive, making it challenging to secure attention and promote Canadian interests, such as for the province of Saskatchewan.

Political Shifts in the UK: The need to build new relationships with changing UK governments (e.g., transitions from Johnson to Truss to Sunak to Starmer) has made continuity difficult, though there is hope for better relations under new leadership.

Strategic Alignment: The role requires managing the delicate balance of international crises (e.g., Ukraine, Middle East) while fostering bilateral trade, as well as addressing issues like the regulation of the monarchy.

Internal Logistics: The role involves managing the consolidation of provincial offices (such as Saskatchewan) into Canada House to streamline efforts.

Ralph Goodale, during his tenure, emphasized that despite these challenges, the relationship remains crucial for trade, including securing access for products like beef and pork.