Nothing will change for the better as long as we are governed by this incarnation of the Liberal Party whose daily, prime obsession is performative politics. ie. The need to be SEEN to be doing something, and always angling to dominate the news cycle, for good and for bad.
To bolster my argument, I ask The Line readers to consider what was one of the fastest, from order book to operational status procurements in recent RAF history? The acquisition of an eight-year-old Airbus A-330-200 for the Prime Minister to travel in. It took ONE year to buy the aircraft and have it in service. Good for the Prime Minister, who was humiliated numerous times by travelling in an outdated aircraft that was long overdue for retirement.
But, it’s not lost on me that the new Airbus plane’s primary purpose will be to allow the Prime Minister to carry out the performance aspects of his job hither and yon, while the rest of the RAF struggles with a list of challenges beyond the scope of this article.
We really need a government that does more than talking about what they are doing. A government that identifies needs in the military and finds the money to do it. (In less than two generations).
We are so involved in rightly slamming the government for their many past misdeeds, and the government is overly involved in reacting, that it all amounts to busy work robbing from the energy pool of rolling up our sleeves to do the needed practical work. Translation: we need common sense leadership. Now. Not 22 months from now. Waiting 22 months is a waste of 22 months.
The Liberals should resign so we and their party can develop collective amnesia that enables Canada to move into the future unburdened by busy work. Translation: The best service the Liberal party can do at this point is to hand over power and get to work renewing itself free of the distractions of busy work.
Voters can rekindle their interest by not voting for them. They'll have more time for self-interest and self-reflection. Everybody wins.
We can also get better service by demanding Senate reform. Actual implementation of honourable sober second thought needs our attention. Either reform the institution, or demand that prioritizing of party over honourable sober amendments be a grave punishable sin. Fill the Senate with many truly Honourable Senator Don Plett clones and we’ll be well on our way, and expert witnesses at Senate hearings won’t be wasting their time or the Senate’s (taxpayers') money on the sacrificial altar of the party in the PMO. Our system of checks and balances would be much stronger, and reign in political wedge nonsense.
Unfortunately, there is no evidence we won't just get anouther government who is obsessed with 'performance politics', they just will have a different audience to perform for.
And as long as all the factions would rather sit back and snipe at the government the moment they show a hint of trying to actually change *anything* that is all we will get, no matter who is in charge.
Nice one. I’ve watching too many “RAF” movies and documentaries lately. (Including a fascinating one that had a some incite into the 1,000s of WW2 aircraft that were flown/shuttled by women from the manufacturer to RAF aerodromes to be put into service.)
What's your evidence that the government isn't actively obstructionist? It's clear from their environment Minister that they oppose all development.
Oil and mining companies make ultra long term investments all the time, but policy uncertainty is death to long term investments.
The fact that one of the two main federal parties is perfectly willing to enact and enforce obviously unconstitutional legislation creates more policy uncertainty than any legal framework.
Do you really think nobody in Ottawa knew the legislation violated the constitution?
The far more parsimonious explanation is that the government is full of people who think that resource development destroys the environment and empowers just the wrong sort of Canadians: rural, blue collar, Western.
And is therefore something to be tolerated only when there is an absolute political necessity.
BTW, Matt & Jen, I am noticing "like" counts going way up. Obviously you're getting more subscribers. Congratulations, Merry Christmas, and good luck in 2024.
I'll take a crack at what the problem is. One word. LEADERSHIP.
Getting big stuff done is hard work. You need relentless champions to accomplish big things. People with real skills and ability, who aren't the least bit afraid to get their hands dirty with the nitty-gritty of getting stuff done, and with the stick-to-it-iv-ness to see it through. People who aren't slaves to the news or election cycle, who have a vision, understand the concept of "national interest" and aren't afraid to stick their necks out to see it through.
There's a word for those people. They're called LEADERS. We don't have any. We need a bunch, starting at the top.
And one more thing… Much was made this week of the announcement that Canada was joining a coalition of nations to keep shipping routes open through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Does anyone want to guess what our contribution actually is? Three (count 'em...3) staff officers from DND. Seriously. Read the release:
Great article. Can't imagine though how anyone can state the Trudeau government isn't obstructionist regarding energy when he and his activist minister spend so much time and energy telling and showing us how they want to shut down oil & gas industry.
“Someone” said JT is “not ready” before he was elected. That assessment (in hindsight) was too generous and kind. He has never been ready, never would have been and never will be. We elected a PM based on his name and his looks (and possibly his socks). He had zero other qualifications to be the leader of Canada. Thanks almost exclusively to JT, we are viewed more frequently now (internally and externally) as an unserious nation. Several other such indicators have occurred under JT’s watch that clearly demonstrate that. Too many of them to enumerate. We deserve where we are at now.
or maybe c) we dont think we have to do them. Thoughts will magically manifest into reality. Our country reminds me of a line from the Importance of Being Earnest.
Lady Bracknell. Upon what grounds may I ask? Algernon is an extremely, I may almost say an ostentatiously, eligible young man. He has nothing, but he looks everything. What more can one desire?
.... Nothing of substance, but all show and thats the point. Its like the post modern obsession with controlling words. We just need to get rid of a few bad words and come up with new ones and voila, the problem is solved... But we elect the politicians we deserve :)
A major complication to coordinating our national efforts was the Liberal invention of “social licence”. Inserting this concept into infrastructure projects has given a veto to people and NGOs on the very fringes of the action, either by a complete refusal to accept projects in any way shape or form or to litigate the project into the ground. (Or worse, slow down projects by endless blockades and demonstrations.)
Canadians need to galvanize public support around the need for projects to proceed in the public interest, instead of pitting us against each other.
We most certainly can get mines built and in an environmentally way. We just need ministers who will hold people accountable and be accountable themselves.
On the military front, well this train-wreck has been coming for decades. Maybe we should look back to about 1956 when the Canadian Army, RCAF, and RCN were pretty damn efficient and well booted and spurred to support NATO and NORAD, and our Foreign Service was top notch and very well respected around the world. This was with half the population we have today. What the hell happened.
Matt you also have a typo - It was Russia who invaded Ukraine.
We can, but we also need to force business to set aside funds for cleanup once the mining is done. There is too long and tax expensive a history of companies taking their profits, declaring bankruptcy and leaving the taxpayer on the hook.
My daughter wanted to join the military FT and she was discouraged from doing so by the person she contacted when she inquired. My son joined the reserve and went FT. It provides structure and etc young people need now. This isn’t rocket science.
Canada could solve several things if we implemented mandatory conscription after high school. I’m dead serious. Like CH has. I have been listening to lots of people with military training and experience since October 7, especially Israelis and I can see the difference that training makes.
Do it as in Germany where it is mandatory but you may opt to do structured community service if the "raw" military options aren't your cup of tea. We do need both and people trained in both.
Yes. But if you know the history of Canada and particularly Quebec, you will know that conscription is not going to happen again. Even if we are desperately threatened. Guaranteed.
It wouldn't be conscription. It would be time defined training and service. Look at it as an extension of highschool. There are students in highschool who are itching and ready to go into the world of work. We need them to build houses - stat. Why wharehouse them? Let them build. They can always go back to school. They will definitely be more motivated then. They could even build as part of their community service option. They'll definitely make useful connections that will guide their future. Some will even stay in the military if they find the right fit.
I know my history but I don't wish to be captive to it. Quebec can opt out. I can live with that.
Canada has progressively concentrated power in the Prime Minister's Office over several decades, facilitating micromanagement of almost every issue and making the PMO a bottleneck for the entire federal government. The government is too big and complicated to be run by a handful of people, particularly relatively young political staffers with next to no experience. What allowed the system to hobble along was that we had fairly competent prime ministers who also had a group of capable allies they trusted enough to delegate important portfolios.
The role of the PM had become a vulnerable single point of failure for how the government was run. Our control-freak PMs have also never had enough trusted allies to fill every portfolio, nor did any since Mulroney consider defense an important topic worthy of much attention.
Since 2015, Canada's had an incompetent prime minister who's not up to the job. He's not only failed to grow into the role, he's actually embraced bad habits of micromanagement and purged his cabinet of potential political rivals. There's going to be no chance of improving the performance of Canada's government until Justin Trudeau is no longer Prime Minister. I don't know that his successors will be better, but we need to explore that possibility.
Any chance we have of actually making headway on many of these issues are entirely contingent upon the removal of a government infested with activist thugs imposing their ruinous ideologies on a country that thus far seems blind to this simple fact.
Matt, you're bumming me out man. I wish I could refute your claims but I can't. I wish I could offer clear suggestions that would help but I can't do that either. Canada seems to be one gigantic, naive, sweet summer child, la-la-la, going on it's blissful ways. Our current government thinks everthing is just hunky-dory. Our bureaucrats, protected from the real world, with job security and golden pensions, pfft, no problems here. Our corporate leaders in massively protected oligopolies, fight over a share of the minor Canada-sized pie knowing they are secure .
My one saving grace, I'm old and will probably be gone before this country completes its "Argentinization". Oh and Merry F-ing Christmas to you too.
Thanks Matt for your thoughtful observations about the Trudeau government’s pathetic record of delivering on promises both national and international. Sadly it’s exactly what I’ve come to expect every time our PM or any of his ministers engage their mouths before their brains have processed how to fulfill their commitments.
Nothing will change for the better as long as we are governed by this incarnation of the Liberal Party whose daily, prime obsession is performative politics. ie. The need to be SEEN to be doing something, and always angling to dominate the news cycle, for good and for bad.
To bolster my argument, I ask The Line readers to consider what was one of the fastest, from order book to operational status procurements in recent RAF history? The acquisition of an eight-year-old Airbus A-330-200 for the Prime Minister to travel in. It took ONE year to buy the aircraft and have it in service. Good for the Prime Minister, who was humiliated numerous times by travelling in an outdated aircraft that was long overdue for retirement.
But, it’s not lost on me that the new Airbus plane’s primary purpose will be to allow the Prime Minister to carry out the performance aspects of his job hither and yon, while the rest of the RAF struggles with a list of challenges beyond the scope of this article.
We really need a government that does more than talking about what they are doing. A government that identifies needs in the military and finds the money to do it. (In less than two generations).
We are so involved in rightly slamming the government for their many past misdeeds, and the government is overly involved in reacting, that it all amounts to busy work robbing from the energy pool of rolling up our sleeves to do the needed practical work. Translation: we need common sense leadership. Now. Not 22 months from now. Waiting 22 months is a waste of 22 months.
The Liberals should resign so we and their party can develop collective amnesia that enables Canada to move into the future unburdened by busy work. Translation: The best service the Liberal party can do at this point is to hand over power and get to work renewing itself free of the distractions of busy work.
Voters can rekindle their interest by not voting for them. They'll have more time for self-interest and self-reflection. Everybody wins.
We can also get better service by demanding Senate reform. Actual implementation of honourable sober second thought needs our attention. Either reform the institution, or demand that prioritizing of party over honourable sober amendments be a grave punishable sin. Fill the Senate with many truly Honourable Senator Don Plett clones and we’ll be well on our way, and expert witnesses at Senate hearings won’t be wasting their time or the Senate’s (taxpayers') money on the sacrificial altar of the party in the PMO. Our system of checks and balances would be much stronger, and reign in political wedge nonsense.
Oh no!
I forgot to pass along a Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings to J + M, all the contributors to The Line and fellow readers.
Unfortunately, there is no evidence we won't just get anouther government who is obsessed with 'performance politics', they just will have a different audience to perform for.
And as long as all the factions would rather sit back and snipe at the government the moment they show a hint of trying to actually change *anything* that is all we will get, no matter who is in charge.
RCAF not RAF. Otherwise a good post.
Edited reply:
Ahhh. Lol. I stand corrected.
Nice one. I’ve watching too many “RAF” movies and documentaries lately. (Including a fascinating one that had a some incite into the 1,000s of WW2 aircraft that were flown/shuttled by women from the manufacturer to RAF aerodromes to be put into service.)
Insight, not incite.
Those responsible for sacking your previous editor should be sacked …
Good grief, then what would the doubly unemployed editor do? It would take a serious retooling of attitude to edit at Canadaland. Lol.
What's your evidence that the government isn't actively obstructionist? It's clear from their environment Minister that they oppose all development.
Oil and mining companies make ultra long term investments all the time, but policy uncertainty is death to long term investments.
The fact that one of the two main federal parties is perfectly willing to enact and enforce obviously unconstitutional legislation creates more policy uncertainty than any legal framework.
Do you really think nobody in Ottawa knew the legislation violated the constitution?
The far more parsimonious explanation is that the government is full of people who think that resource development destroys the environment and empowers just the wrong sort of Canadians: rural, blue collar, Western.
And is therefore something to be tolerated only when there is an absolute political necessity.
BTW, Matt & Jen, I am noticing "like" counts going way up. Obviously you're getting more subscribers. Congratulations, Merry Christmas, and good luck in 2024.
Well stated. That remark grated on me as well.
I'll take a crack at what the problem is. One word. LEADERSHIP.
Getting big stuff done is hard work. You need relentless champions to accomplish big things. People with real skills and ability, who aren't the least bit afraid to get their hands dirty with the nitty-gritty of getting stuff done, and with the stick-to-it-iv-ness to see it through. People who aren't slaves to the news or election cycle, who have a vision, understand the concept of "national interest" and aren't afraid to stick their necks out to see it through.
There's a word for those people. They're called LEADERS. We don't have any. We need a bunch, starting at the top.
And one more thing… Much was made this week of the announcement that Canada was joining a coalition of nations to keep shipping routes open through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Does anyone want to guess what our contribution actually is? Three (count 'em...3) staff officers from DND. Seriously. Read the release:
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2023/12/canada-to-participate-in-united-states-led-operation-prosperity-guardian.html
It's a new low in pathetic embarrassment. It is to weep.
Great article. Can't imagine though how anyone can state the Trudeau government isn't obstructionist regarding energy when he and his activist minister spend so much time and energy telling and showing us how they want to shut down oil & gas industry.
Maybe a third thing is true? We don’t mean what we say AND we don’t think we need to do anything other than say it.
“Someone” said JT is “not ready” before he was elected. That assessment (in hindsight) was too generous and kind. He has never been ready, never would have been and never will be. We elected a PM based on his name and his looks (and possibly his socks). He had zero other qualifications to be the leader of Canada. Thanks almost exclusively to JT, we are viewed more frequently now (internally and externally) as an unserious nation. Several other such indicators have occurred under JT’s watch that clearly demonstrate that. Too many of them to enumerate. We deserve where we are at now.
or maybe c) we dont think we have to do them. Thoughts will magically manifest into reality. Our country reminds me of a line from the Importance of Being Earnest.
Lady Bracknell. Upon what grounds may I ask? Algernon is an extremely, I may almost say an ostentatiously, eligible young man. He has nothing, but he looks everything. What more can one desire?
.... Nothing of substance, but all show and thats the point. Its like the post modern obsession with controlling words. We just need to get rid of a few bad words and come up with new ones and voila, the problem is solved... But we elect the politicians we deserve :)
It may be both of those things. And also maybe a bureaucracy that has learned it doesn't actually need to produce much.
A very interesting post.
A major complication to coordinating our national efforts was the Liberal invention of “social licence”. Inserting this concept into infrastructure projects has given a veto to people and NGOs on the very fringes of the action, either by a complete refusal to accept projects in any way shape or form or to litigate the project into the ground. (Or worse, slow down projects by endless blockades and demonstrations.)
Canadians need to galvanize public support around the need for projects to proceed in the public interest, instead of pitting us against each other.
We most certainly can get mines built and in an environmentally way. We just need ministers who will hold people accountable and be accountable themselves.
On the military front, well this train-wreck has been coming for decades. Maybe we should look back to about 1956 when the Canadian Army, RCAF, and RCN were pretty damn efficient and well booted and spurred to support NATO and NORAD, and our Foreign Service was top notch and very well respected around the world. This was with half the population we have today. What the hell happened.
Matt you also have a typo - It was Russia who invaded Ukraine.
We can, but we also need to force business to set aside funds for cleanup once the mining is done. There is too long and tax expensive a history of companies taking their profits, declaring bankruptcy and leaving the taxpayer on the hook.
A fish rots from the head down and with our government we have a very old fish.
My daughter wanted to join the military FT and she was discouraged from doing so by the person she contacted when she inquired. My son joined the reserve and went FT. It provides structure and etc young people need now. This isn’t rocket science.
Canada could solve several things if we implemented mandatory conscription after high school. I’m dead serious. Like CH has. I have been listening to lots of people with military training and experience since October 7, especially Israelis and I can see the difference that training makes.
Do it as in Germany where it is mandatory but you may opt to do structured community service if the "raw" military options aren't your cup of tea. We do need both and people trained in both.
And they should have to do their time in a different region of the country.
Yes. But if you know the history of Canada and particularly Quebec, you will know that conscription is not going to happen again. Even if we are desperately threatened. Guaranteed.
It wouldn't be conscription. It would be time defined training and service. Look at it as an extension of highschool. There are students in highschool who are itching and ready to go into the world of work. We need them to build houses - stat. Why wharehouse them? Let them build. They can always go back to school. They will definitely be more motivated then. They could even build as part of their community service option. They'll definitely make useful connections that will guide their future. Some will even stay in the military if they find the right fit.
I know my history but I don't wish to be captive to it. Quebec can opt out. I can live with that.
Oh, the horror! The violation of human rights!
Nope, not with this crew.
Canada has progressively concentrated power in the Prime Minister's Office over several decades, facilitating micromanagement of almost every issue and making the PMO a bottleneck for the entire federal government. The government is too big and complicated to be run by a handful of people, particularly relatively young political staffers with next to no experience. What allowed the system to hobble along was that we had fairly competent prime ministers who also had a group of capable allies they trusted enough to delegate important portfolios.
The role of the PM had become a vulnerable single point of failure for how the government was run. Our control-freak PMs have also never had enough trusted allies to fill every portfolio, nor did any since Mulroney consider defense an important topic worthy of much attention.
Since 2015, Canada's had an incompetent prime minister who's not up to the job. He's not only failed to grow into the role, he's actually embraced bad habits of micromanagement and purged his cabinet of potential political rivals. There's going to be no chance of improving the performance of Canada's government until Justin Trudeau is no longer Prime Minister. I don't know that his successors will be better, but we need to explore that possibility.
Any chance we have of actually making headway on many of these issues are entirely contingent upon the removal of a government infested with activist thugs imposing their ruinous ideologies on a country that thus far seems blind to this simple fact.
Matt, you're bumming me out man. I wish I could refute your claims but I can't. I wish I could offer clear suggestions that would help but I can't do that either. Canada seems to be one gigantic, naive, sweet summer child, la-la-la, going on it's blissful ways. Our current government thinks everthing is just hunky-dory. Our bureaucrats, protected from the real world, with job security and golden pensions, pfft, no problems here. Our corporate leaders in massively protected oligopolies, fight over a share of the minor Canada-sized pie knowing they are secure .
My one saving grace, I'm old and will probably be gone before this country completes its "Argentinization". Oh and Merry F-ing Christmas to you too.
And I, Bruce, have precisely the same saving grace as do you.
The problem is that while I will be dead and gone, my children and grandchildren will still be here with the world that will then exist. Not good!
Thanks Matt for your thoughtful observations about the Trudeau government’s pathetic record of delivering on promises both national and international. Sadly it’s exactly what I’ve come to expect every time our PM or any of his ministers engage their mouths before their brains have processed how to fulfill their commitments.