Justin Trudeau hints at boosting Canada’s military spending

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[dapaterson]

FTFY.

The spouse of one if my soldiers just went through this debacle. Moved to Supp Res in 2023, asked to move back into the Reg F and VOT, was told to start re-enrollment from Day One.

Wasn't until I did some digging and found the Sup Res National coordinator's email that things started to change. All that was needed was the CFRC to send him her file number and...bam. Back in uniform and on POET within a week.

Almost as if you need properly trained people to administer human resources functions.

 

[MilEME09]

FTFY.

The spouse of one if my soldiers just went through this debacle. Moved to Supp Res in 2023, asked to move back into the Reg F and VOT, was told to start re-enrollment from Day One.

Wasn't until I did some digging and found the Sup Res National coordinator's email that things started to change. All that was needed was the CFRC to send him her file number and...bam. Back in uniform and on POET within a week.

And these are the people running entry to our system, it's sheer incompetence. Don't worry though none will face consequences or get anything negative on their PAR.

 

[daftandbarmy]

And these are the people running entry to our system, it's sheer incompetence. Don't worry though none will face consequences or get anything negative on their PAR.

A few more tales of woe...

I liked this exchange in particular:

"I knew a full-time reservist who was working at CFRG while holding down a day job, and an elected position in municipal government. I met a lot of folks at CFRG HQ when I was instructing, none of them seemed terribly busy."

Augmented with... "That individual was a class B reservist sometimes "working from home", and a known dog fucker. Also still there afaik."

https://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments/1cn55jq/comment/l34swm7

 

[Quirky]

Are the CFRG issues related to the recruiter or admin side of things?

Don't worry though none will face consequences or get anything negative on their PAR.

That's pretty much CAF-wide. Even with negative FB notes or sub-standard PARs, people are still getting promoted due to attrition. Cpls ranked in the 150s were getting their leaf, it's insanity.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

Are the CFRG issues related to the recruiter or admin side of things?

The processes are Byzantine, but we are revising and streamlining where we can.

Those gains are for naught if Cpl Bloggins can't be fucked to action items in a timely manner because "reasons".

 

[MilEME09]

That's pretty much CAF-wide. Even with negative FB notes or sub-standard PARs, people are still getting promoted due to attrition. Cpls ranked in the 150s were getting their leaf, it's insanity.

Yeap, it's all about promote promote promote, had my CSM ask why i haven't gotten my sgts yet. I laughed and asked why there's is a need with 3 RCEME sgts above me. That and thanks to our staffing issues my final trades course for howitzer has been cancelled 5 years straight.

 

[Kirkhill]

Are small helicopters worth the effort these days or can they be covered off with UAVs and LAMs, or even Cruise Missiles?

On the other hand logistics support in the rear seems to be real need for dispersed operations.

The H225M appears to be an All Terrain 5 tonne truck.
AW101 is a less efficient 5 tonne truck (weighing twice as much empty as the H225M)
CH147F is a 10 tonne truck that weighs pretty much the same as the empty AW101 (give or take a tonne).

The Brits are hanging on to their Lynxes (Wildcats) aren't they? It and the Griffon have MTOWs in the 5-6 tonne range.

 

[Underway]

Those gains are for naught if Cpl Bloggins can't be fucked to action items in a timely manner because "reasons".

Not Cpl Bloggins fault. Its the supervisors fault. IC to start. Escalate from there.

"I knew a full-time reservist who was working at CFRG while holding down a day job, and an elected position in municipal government. I met a lot of folks at CFRG HQ when I was instructing, none of them seemed terribly busy."

Can't speak for HQ, but I can speak for the Dets.

We aren't full staffed. We're running as hard and working as hard as we can. If some Dets aren't working hard then that's a leadership issue. But all the Dets that I know are running pretty hard.

 

[KevinB]

Kevin. Until last month I was in full agreement.

However, when you're the smaller partner in a bigger conglomerate then you better have trust in your bigger partner that at some point he won't pack up his IP or divert the critical parts supply coming from his subs to your plants or start raising the prices of parts or licenses unilaterally. Last month all that trust disappeared in a cloud of orange vented stupidity.

While I love to throw blame on President Trump, I do think Canada has played a not too small part in causing issues.

I went grocery shopping with 9D today. It took twice as long as usual because we were looking at labels to see the country of origin. US Brands that we've bought for decades are staying on the shelf.

I said it before: the two of us were two of the most solid fans of the US you could have up here. Not anymore. I don't think Americans truly understand what's going on here. Even worse, the vast majority of them couldn't give a rat's ass what we think up here.

I agree - we erred before. Sometimes stupidly so. From here on in it's more likely to be stubbornly so.

Chinese interference and other issues with security of high level government personnel. General apathy about Defense and Security issues. While I think DJT had made some colossally poor decisions on tariffs and other issues, I see a lot of DoD pointing to more than a decade of prodding, shaming etc trying to get Canada to deal with a number of the above issues. Canada has been a shitty partner for years.


Most US opinion on Canada ends with, at the end of the day, if you are not on board, you’re just another impact area for BMD…

 

[PrairieFella]

Kevin. Until last month I was in full agreement.

However, when you're the smaller partner in a bigger conglomerate then you better have trust in your bigger partner that at some point he won't pack up his IP or divert the critical parts supply coming from his subs to your plants or start raising the prices of parts or licenses unilaterally. Last month all that trust disappeared in a cloud of orange vented stupidity.

I went grocery shopping with 9D today. It took twice as long as usual because we were looking at labels to see the country of origin. US Brands that we've bought for decades are staying on the shelf.

I said it before: the two of us were two of the most solid fans of the US you could have up here. Not anymore. I don't think Americans truly understand what's going on here. Even worse, the vast majority of them couldn't give a rat's ass what we think up here.

I agree - we erred before. Sometimes stupidly so. From here on in it's more likely to be stubbornly so.

Respectfully FJAG, it was naive to think they've ever been any other way. They're just as duplicitous and ruthless as any other of the other superpowers in history, they were just our dog in the fight.

 

[Furniture]

While I love to throw blame on President Trump, I do think Canada has played a not too small part in causing issues.


Chinese interference and other issues with security of high level government personnel. General apathy about Defense and Security issues. While I think DJT had made some colossally poor decisions on tariffs and other issues, I see a lot of DoD pointing to more than a decade of prodding, shaming etc trying to get Canada to deal with a number of the above issues. Canada has been a shitty partner for years.


Most US opinion on Canada ends with, at the end of the day, if you are not on board, you’re just another impact area for BMD…

Which means Canada should find better allies/friends...

If the best America can come up with is "it's our boot heel or the other guys boot heel" , Canada can maybe look elsewhere.

I think the current US administration's view of politics if far too short term, to the detriment of America and the rest of the world. The relationship between Canada and America is permanently damaged. Canada should be exercising every opportunity to engage with others.

Until a few weeks ago, I was pretty much on board with "buy American". America has shown it's true colours, and that means we should be pivoting away from America as fast as possible. Maybe MTP, and Sky Sabre are the right Canadian options...

 

[FJAG]

While I love to throw blame on President Trump, I do think Canada has played a not too small part in causing issues.

You won't find me disagreeing with that at all.

Chinese interference and other issues with security of high level government personnel. General apathy about Defense and Security issues. While I think DJT had made some colossally poor decisions on tariffs and other issues, I see a lot of DoD pointing to more than a decade of prodding, shaming etc trying to get Canada to deal with a number of the above issues. Canada has been a shitty partner for years.

Kevin. I'll agree right off the top that not reaching 2% is problematic especially we agreed in 2014 that we'd be there by this year. Trudeau is an ingenuous little bitch who'd lie through his teeth if it helps his political position. Remind you of anyone south of the border?

The issue though is we aren't deadbeats like some folks like to believe. Sure, on a GDP% basis we're #27 of 32. That's pretty poor. But on a dollars spent basis we're actually #7 of 31, following the US, Germany, UK, France, and just behind Poland and Italy.

We're building a fleet of new CSCs and support ships. We're buying 88 new F35s, up to 16 new P8s and 11 new MQ9Bs. There are also some new NORAD initiatives on the table.

The army's a mess but the US has pulled out of Europe in any substantial way (except equipping Ukraine with older stuff) for some time. We're at least offering to run a brigade there which will put a heavy load on what we have.

Most US opinion on Canada ends with, at the end of the day, if you are not on board, you’re just another impact area for BMD…

Most Americans think vaccines are bad and only one in twenty could tell you the five freedoms protected by the 1st amendment to the constitution (speech, religion, right to assemble, freedom of the press and freedom to petition their government). How many can name even five of Canada's provinces? The US is not generally known for its ability to think too deeply when it comes to global strategy. They simply do not have the facts but are awash in misinformation.

Trump expresses being pissed off over Fentanyl heading south and the trade deficit. But only 0.2% of the US border seizures of Fentanyl comes from Canada and trade would be in balance if the US would curb its voracious appetite for energy from Canada. We both know this is a sham. What neither of us knows is what does he really want except to generate MAGA noise.

There are dozens of ways to get Canada more involved. Waiting a few months for the election to take its course would have been one. All that Trump has done is give the Liberals an issue where they had none before. Access to vital minerals - easy, we'd be happy to sell and guarantee - until now. Want 2% by 2027? - easy - just support Freeland and her dumb idea to raise "full-time regular" salaries by 50%. (I guess ResF members don't count for shit with her). Another 23,000 troops? - are there enough cubicles in Ottawa? We'd have the biggest morons in the world leading us if it wasn't for someone else.

Trump and his team are hostage to a very dumb game that they are playing. Trump wants the world to focus on China - instead he's empowering China. Trump thinks Russia is not a challenge to the US and he can control Putin - he's dead wrong. I'm not even going to talk about the third and fourth string folks who he has operating in his administration but it won't take too long for even the Republican house to figure out that the emperor has no clothes. In the meantime US influence in the world is waning.

Don't worry. Canadian defence spending will rise in the short term to 2%. Hopefully, in a way that translates into real-world capability boosts and not just more moribund bureaucracy. We already blow too much on pay.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Most Americans think vaccines are bad and only one in twenty could tell you the five freedoms protected by the 1st amendment to the constitution (speech, religion, right to assemble, freedom of the press and freedom to petition their government). How many can name even five of Canada's provinces? The US is not generally known for its ability to think too deeply when it comes to global strategy. They simply do not have the facts but are awash in misinformation.

Meanwhile, in Texas...

In rural West Texas, a measles outbreak grows with no end in sight​

At least 49 cases have been confirmed. Health officials — who are scrambling to get a handle on the vaccine-preventable outbreak — suspect 200 to 300 people may be infected.

In rural West Texas, a measles outbreak grows with no end in sight

At least 49 cases have been confirmed. Health officials — who are scrambling to get a handle on the vaccine-preventable outbreak — suspect 200 to 300 people may be infected.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[PrairieFella]

Meanwhile, in Texas...

In rural West Texas, a measles outbreak grows with no end in sight​

At least 49 cases have been confirmed. Health officials — who are scrambling to get a handle on the vaccine-preventable outbreak — suspect 200 to 300 people may be infected.

In rural West Texas, a measles outbreak grows with no end in sight

At least 49 cases have been confirmed. Health officials — who are scrambling to get a handle on the vaccine-preventable outbreak — suspect 200 to 300 people may be infected.

www.nbcnews.com

Won't be long until it's polio.

 

[FJAG]

they were just our dog in the fight.

That's a good thing to have and its mostly worked to our advantage.

I think the current US administration's view of politics if far too short term, to the detriment of America and the rest of the world.

As is ours. I don't think we have a national strategy that extends beyond the next election cycle. It's the burden that a democracy bears.

The relationship between Canada and America is permanently damaged.

I tend to agree albeit that the public has tremendously short-term memory.

Canada should be exercising every opportunity to engage with others.

We tried that. China would love us to kowtow to the belt and road. Europe is too self centred. And we'll still have that pesky 5,525 mile border that we share with the US and which 90% of us live within a 150 miles of. Africa? South America? I don't think that we have the talent.

 

[Furniture]

As is ours. I don't think we have a national strategy that extends beyond the next election cycle. It's the burden that a democracy bears.

Fair, but I suspect our governments have erred toward caution and quiet non-compliance. America has essentially declared economic war on the world. I expect their current actions will have far more of an impact than Canada's protection of dairy farmers, and refusal to commit enough to NATO.

I tend to agree albeit that the public has tremendously short-term memory.

It may be recency bias, but this feels different... America is turning it's back to the world, after decades of enforcing it's will on the world. There will be far reaching and unexpected consequences for the entire world.

We tried that. China would love us to kowtow to the belt and road. Europe is too self centred. And we'll still have that pesky 5,525 mile border that we share with the US and which 90% of us live within a 150 miles of. Africa? South America? I don't think that we have the talent.

I'm not suggesting we try to abandon America all at once. I'm simply suggesting that when it comes to defence, and other critical things we stop pretending America is on "our side". Maybe buy NATO, Korean, Japanese, etc... systems , rather than be entirely reliant on an "ally" who is threatening to annex us.

Maybe Canada should make a pointed effort to remind our allies that threats so of annexation are not a "cool" thing to do.

 

[FJAG]

Maybe buy NATO, Korean, Japanese, etc... systems . . .

I'm generally against European kit. That's going back to when my people were going into war with kit that was finely machined so as to freeze up in Russia and jam with sand in North Africa and in vehicles built for the Autobahn and not Russian mud. Plants for building Korean kit in Canada are looking better to me every day.

 

[PrairieFella]

Fair, but I suspect our governments have erred toward caution and quiet non-compliance. America has essentially declared economic war on the world. I expect their current actions will have far more of an impact than Canada's protection of dairy farmers, and refusal to commit enough to NATO.

It may be recency bias, but this feels different... America is turning it's back to the world, after decades of enforcing it's will on the world. There will be far reaching and unexpected consequences for the entire world.


I'm not suggesting we try to abandon America all at once. I'm simply suggesting that when it comes to defence, and other critical things we stop pretending America is on "our side". Maybe buy NATO, Korean, Japanese, etc... systems , rather than be entirely reliant on an "ally" who is threatening to annex us.

Maybe Canada should make a pointed effort to remind our allies that threats so of annexation are not a "cool" thing to do.

Perhaps a "Middle-Power" coalition of some sort. Let's work with our natural allies and friends such as the EU, UK, Chile, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Perhaps it's time for a human experiment where we eschew the great powers do our own thing in the middle and work to develop new members through development and aid initiatives. I know I'm more likely to win Lotto Max than see something along those lines but one can dream and man, I'm dreaming of a world where the Americans, Russians and Chinese are diminished as much as possible and recognized globally as the threats they are.

I'm generally against European kit. That's going back to when my people were going into war with kit that was finely machined so as to freeze up in Russia and jam with sand in North Africa and in vehicles built for the Autobahn and not Russian mud. Plants for building Korean kit in Canada are looking better to me every day.

From what I've heard from some online acquaintances, SK makes some stellar shit. I bet they'd be more than happy to build factories here as long as we are reliable customers (which we probably won't be haha).

 

[Furniture]

Perhaps a "Middle-Power" coalition of some sort. Let's work with our natural allies and friends such as the EU, UK, Chile, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Perhaps it's time for a human experiment where we eschew the great powers do our own thing in the middle and work to develop new members through development and aid initiatives. I know I'm more likely to win Lotto Max than see something along those lines but one can dream and man, I'm dreaming of a world where the Americans, Russians and Chinese are diminished as much as possible and recognized globally as the threats they are.

Great idea in principal, but entirely unrealistic in practice.

Canada should buy kit elsewhere, but it would be silly to assume we'd side with China or Russia against America. We are linked to the American sphere of influence, so we need to be useful partners in that sphere. That said, we also need to be prickly enough that America doesn't think it's worth a 10 year war to make us a colony.

 

[PrairieFella]

Great idea in principal, but entirely unrealistic in practice.

Canada should buy kit elsewhere, but it would be silly to assume we'd side with China or Russia against America. We are linked to the American sphere of influence, so we need to be useful partners in that sphere. That said, we also need to be prickly enough that America doesn't think it's worth a 10 year war to make us a colony.

Oh I agree. Russia is our main threat 100%, no further explanation required. China is a nebulous, vague threat but poses a substantial risk to our main partners in the Indo-Pacific, so watch and shoot on them, especially since they only have 5-10 more years where they can project their influence aggressively. Demographic collapse is a bitch. I wonder what China looks like after the death of Dear Leader? Maybe another Hu Jintao is in the wings, certainly no saint but a rational leader willing to work with the West.

Edit: RE: Prickly. Nukes, about 80 of them.