I'm sorry but the Government of Canada; regardless of Party in charge, must be considered as "all talk, no action", until actions prove that theory wrong. We are effectively a US protectorate, and our sovereignty relies almost entirely on them. And we're living like that while running another $40 billion deficit with nothing to show for it.
Unfortunately, Canada as a mid power is no more. We have effectively been neutered by our present government, both diplomatically and militarily. The best we can hope for is to be reasonably well treated by the next global power. Depressing really.
I cannot rely on a government that makes its soldiers use the Food Bank to survive to make these investments. We are now an embarrassment to the world.
I fear that being a barely participating free loading protectorate will eventually frustrate and annoy the US to the point where maintaining the status quo won’t be worth its bother. We must pick up the pace as Michael Den Tandt makes very clear.
It all comes down to culture. It always does. We just don't have a culture in Canada where the institutions can be created (and nurtured) to take on these complex geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges head on. On paper we should, we are a large wealthy 40 million + country, but we have never had time to grow into it. It's go time and we need mentorship.
So how to grow the culture? Unfortunately our chattering classes, opinion leaders, Bay St., Ottawa, Calgary Oil Barons, etc. just aren't fit for purpose. We just haven't raised our leaders to lead something more consequential than a middle-sized power. Anthony Lacavera wrote a whole book on this, and has some great ideas to get us going.
How do we grow our elites and leaders for the new world? First thing, open up the economy and culture, Get rid of every and anything that protects any sector from the "big bad world." All of it. From media to dairy to even farming. Sink or swim. You can't lead without leading, and you can't grow if you are the big fish in a tiny pond.
What to focus on first? Blow up the home team protections our finance industry enjoys. That includes law and accounting. Our country was founded and built by bankers, lawyers and accountants, they are the apex of our economy, we need them to compete and be better. That will in turn beget a more healthy culture of defence, procurement, diplomacy, etc. because they will demand it. It's time to get rid of the Central Canadian parochialism, or Canada might not make it out of the 21st Century.
Most of what the govt says will simply not happen — as is the case with previous defence policies since the time of Trudeau’s father. Unless the essence of the policy is to restrict security and defence by tying up allocated funding for years. That part will be very present and will continue to have a huge effect. A negative effect obviously — and one which will (hopefully just “may”) be the end of anything that resembles a viable defence capability.
Well written, with a definite sprinkling of global issue understanding , yet by a person who wrote speeches, for the worst PM & bobblehead VPM in modern history.
I'm sorry but the Government of Canada; regardless of Party in charge, must be considered as "all talk, no action", until actions prove that theory wrong. We are effectively a US protectorate, and our sovereignty relies almost entirely on them. And we're living like that while running another $40 billion deficit with nothing to show for it.
Unfortunately, Canada as a mid power is no more. We have effectively been neutered by our present government, both diplomatically and militarily. The best we can hope for is to be reasonably well treated by the next global power. Depressing really.
I cannot rely on a government that makes its soldiers use the Food Bank to survive to make these investments. We are now an embarrassment to the world.
I fear that being a barely participating free loading protectorate will eventually frustrate and annoy the US to the point where maintaining the status quo won’t be worth its bother. We must pick up the pace as Michael Den Tandt makes very clear.
It all comes down to culture. It always does. We just don't have a culture in Canada where the institutions can be created (and nurtured) to take on these complex geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges head on. On paper we should, we are a large wealthy 40 million + country, but we have never had time to grow into it. It's go time and we need mentorship.
So how to grow the culture? Unfortunately our chattering classes, opinion leaders, Bay St., Ottawa, Calgary Oil Barons, etc. just aren't fit for purpose. We just haven't raised our leaders to lead something more consequential than a middle-sized power. Anthony Lacavera wrote a whole book on this, and has some great ideas to get us going.
How do we grow our elites and leaders for the new world? First thing, open up the economy and culture, Get rid of every and anything that protects any sector from the "big bad world." All of it. From media to dairy to even farming. Sink or swim. You can't lead without leading, and you can't grow if you are the big fish in a tiny pond.
What to focus on first? Blow up the home team protections our finance industry enjoys. That includes law and accounting. Our country was founded and built by bankers, lawyers and accountants, they are the apex of our economy, we need them to compete and be better. That will in turn beget a more healthy culture of defence, procurement, diplomacy, etc. because they will demand it. It's time to get rid of the Central Canadian parochialism, or Canada might not make it out of the 21st Century.
Good article. However.
Most of what the govt says will simply not happen — as is the case with previous defence policies since the time of Trudeau’s father. Unless the essence of the policy is to restrict security and defence by tying up allocated funding for years. That part will be very present and will continue to have a huge effect. A negative effect obviously — and one which will (hopefully just “may”) be the end of anything that resembles a viable defence capability.
Well written, with a definite sprinkling of global issue understanding , yet by a person who wrote speeches, for the worst PM & bobblehead VPM in modern history.