RUMINT of Canada wanting more C-17's

[YZT580]

So rather the RCAF then leave the freighters in the hands of the private sector, along with the fire fighters.

Add some Chinooks to the mix.

Subsidizing air freight so that the cost of lettuce and diesel is the same in Iqaluit as Peterborough would still be cheaper than building roads and rail over thousands of kilometers.

true, but roads/rail gives those at the end of the line the wherewithal to access the market in the rest of Canada with the goods they produce. Shipping minerals by air isn't practical and, pardon the cliché but air freight on a pair of sealskin moccasins puts at least 20 dollars on the base price. China will ship them cheaper in a can. If you want the north to be part of the rest of Canada you have to provide the ability for the rest of Canada to get there. How many Canadians will ever visit Ivvavik Park?

 

[YZT580]

If those communities were on islands would you require roads be built to them? Or would you rely on viable ports that attracted a steady flow of traffic?

Alert is sustained entirely by air. That is because our Canadian government chooses to subsidize its existence because it is deemed important that it exists.

How important are our northern communities?

....

The Aussies support their rural communities by national institutions like the Flying Doctor Service -

How the service works

The RFDS uses a network of bases, a variety of aircraft, and a team of pilots and medical clinicians to provide its services.

It is a lifeline for people living, working, and traveling in rural and remote parts of Australia, ensuring they can access the same quality of care as those in urban areas.

The organization relies on a combination of government funding, volunteers, and public support to operate

Greece maintains a fleet of ferries as does B.C. for general travel. Air links are for those with money and for emergency services; not for transporting potatoes

 

[Colin Parkinson]

true, but roads/rail gives those at the end of the line the wherewithal to access the market in the rest of Canada with the goods they produce. Shipping minerals by air isn't practical and, pardon the cliché but air freight on a pair of sealskin moccasins puts at least 20 dollars on the base price. China will ship them cheaper in a can. If you want the north to be part of the rest of Canada you have to provide the ability for the rest of Canada to get there. How many Canadians will ever visit Ivvavik Park?

Shipping ore by plane was done, i been to the mine site (long closed) and talk about a crazy place to fly in and out of. After this they shifted to Hovercraft to move the Ore. The CCG actually leased that Hovercraft as well for a bit.

https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/1996/a96p0175/a96p0175.html

 

[Kirkhill]

Greece maintains a fleet of ferries as does B.C. for general travel. Air links are for those with money and for emergency services; not for transporting potatoes

Your point is taken but dollar for dollar, when you are contemplating servicing the population of Lehbridge spread out over the area of Western Europe, over terrain that isn't friendly to ships, boats, road or rail then it seems to me that we are left with the least worst options. All of them are expensive. But until Gray's Bay reaches a population of 100,000 is it really worth building a road? Or would the money be better spent buliding up its sea and airports to exploit the local resources and attract those 100,000 in the first place?

Greece has blue skies and decent wine making sailing between the islands a different proposition than travelling in the Canadian North.

 

[Kirkhill]

Shipping ore by plane was done, i been to the mine site (long closed) and talk about a crazy place to fly in and out of. After this they shifted to Hovercraft to move the Ore. The CCG actually leased that Hovercraft as well for a bit.

https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/1996/a96p0175/a96p0175.html

Depending on costs it may be more cost effective to concentrate and/or refine the ore on site and ship ingots. With SMR technology it might be interesting to see how that could affect feasibility.

 

[YZT580]

Your point is taken but dollar for dollar, when you are contemplating servicing the population of Lehbridge spread out over the area of Western Europe, over terrain that isn't friendly to ships, boats, road or rail then it seems to me that we are left with the least worst options. All of them are expensive. But until Gray's Bay reaches a population of 100,000 is it really worth building a road? Or would the money be better spent buliding up its sea and airports to exploit the local resources and attract those 100,000 in the first place?

Greece has blue skies and decent wine making sailing between the islands a different proposition than travelling in the Canadian North.

I can see sea-lift as being of benefit but only if the channels can be kept clear for ice capable hulls for most of the year, perhaps combined with short haul rail links along the south Arctic shore to lessen the number of ports required. Only guessing.

 

[Kirkhill]

And I can see that as the start of the organic growth of a network.

A good starting point could be a railway across Baffin Island at the iron mine to connect the Arctic Bay / Nanisivik / Resolute side to the Hudoson Bay side.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

We need to build better port and airport facilities in those northern communities, that will speed up the sealift and hopefully get more loads in over the open water season. That port access will also encourage development and you see an organic road network spread from those locations. The Ports will encourage investments in other infrastructure like long resource roads, pipelines, transmission lines, dams and fiberoptics.

 

[dapaterson]

We need to build better port and airport facilities in those northern communities, that will speed up the sealift and hopefully get more loads in over the open water season. That port access will also encourage development and you see an organic road network spread from those locations. The Ports will encourage investments in other infrastructure like long resource roads, pipelines, transmission lines, dams and fiberoptics.

Those all qualify as investments in the 3.5% / 1.5% defence investments.