Canadian Foreign Policy & Affairs II

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Ok, point taken.

But I would note that these were both relatively recent annexations that were never widely recognized and it was in the dying days of regimes where independence was plausible. The British East India Company conquered the Sikh Empire in 1849 and India does not appear to be on the verge of disintegration.

Point also taken. And I don't want to belabour the issue but I think we shouldn't take at face value the Indian government line on this issues anymore than we would the Chinese government on Tibet. Who seem as equally unlikely to have a plausible path to independence. I guess it's unique as we have diasporas on both side of the issue. I agree let's not import their grudges but we can't accept foreign governments killing people no matter what they are accused of.

[Truenorth00]

An example of the kind of tech Canada will miss out on, without AUKUS:

https://www.defenseone.com/technolog...s-life/396312/

[casper]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Have no fear everyone! The Liberals will establish a foreign influence registry. We can all be sure foreign spies will be lining up to register.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/cana...bill-1.6875228

So what exactly do you dislike about the changes.

It includes authority for CSIS to share data with provincial government and political parties. Currently its limited.

Having a registry and logs of who meeting and interactions goes a long way.

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by casper

So what exactly do you dislike about the changes.

It includes authority for CSIS to share data with provincial government and political parties. Currently its limited.

Having a registry and logs of who meeting and interactions goes a long way.

Its another example of too little too late. The Liberals have let every single horse run out of the barn, in fact they waved as they left but the Polls have focused the adolescent's on doing the job they should have been doing for the last ten years.

Its too bad the folks in our Security services can't go public with their frustrations and the mind numbing naivete they have had to deal with.

[kwoldtimer]

Man oh man, some pretty mangled perceptions in the last several posts.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

Its another example of too little too late. The Liberals have let every single horse run out of the barn, in fact they waved as they left but the Polls have focused the adolescent's on doing the job they should have been doing for the last ten years.

Its too bad the folks in our Security services can't go public with their frustrations and the mind numbing naivete they have had to deal with.

Globe and Mail agrees with you

[casper]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

Its another example of too little too late. The Liberals have let every single horse run out of the barn, in fact they waved as they left but the Polls have focused the adolescent's on doing the job they should have been doing for the last ten years.

Its too bad the folks in our Security services can't go public with their frustrations and the mind numbing naivete they have had to deal with.

I think it is a fair criticism that they should have acted sooner. Now that they are acting is there anything specifically wrong with what is being proposed?

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by casper

I think it is a fair criticism that they should have acted sooner. Now that they are acting is there anything specifically wrong with what is being proposed?

No nothing wrong but the timing. They have a Myopic reluctance to take Canadian security seriously and its is truly mind boggling. They just refuse to "get it' as then they would have to stifle the virtue garbage and have to say no to some of the victim/socialist constituency that got them in Office.

Canada is the only NATO Country in the Quadrant of shame as the Triangle of folks that come from Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal truly think that Security is an "American thing". They really think that a kid from Georgia or Tennessee should sacrifice their lives so that they can go to the cottage until bad things pass. Just like the Convoy protest. Most of D/T Ottawa went to their second houses and tut tutted from afar.

The interesting thing is that when it comes to the purview of NORAD responsibility's and commitment someone obviously read the riot act to the Government as the RCAF recently had a VERY good year with common sense
choices in how Canada will contribute to the future. Credit should also go the the Government for not cancelling the National Ship build Program. The U.S. and NATO never mention our diminished Naval capabilities because there is a plan. A plan that will deliver over 400,000 tonnes of Federal Government capability in ten to fifteen years. We just need an 8 Boat Submarine program started.

A friend of mine is an analyst at CSE in Ottawa and pre Covid She used to travel to Virginia at least twice a year for training and conferences . Canada has not sent her or anyone in her section since 2019.Hmmm.

This Government preens and signals their Moral superiority and sadly there are too many Canadians that drink that bunk up. The Emperor has no clothes and some of Justin's voters like it just that way. Our Enemies do as well.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

This Government preens and signals their Moral superiority and sadly there are too many Canadians that drink that bunk up. The Emperor has no clothes and some of Justin's voters like it just that way. Our Enemies do as well.

Requoted for absolute truth!!!

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

This Government preens and signals their Moral superiority and sadly there are too many Canadians that drink that bunk up. The Emperor has no clothes and some of Justin's voters like it just that way. Our Enemies do as well.

The fixing of the low hanging fruit (foreign agent registry, clearer lines of reporting from Intelligence to Cabinet, changing the rules for party nominations) would have been so easy. But there would have been no visible "wins" so they do nothing and then act surprised when the pressure cooker of inaction blows up in their face!

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

The fixing of the low hanging fruit (foreign agent registry, clearer lines of reporting from Intelligence to Cabinet, changing the rules for party nominations) would have been so easy. But there would have been no visible "wins" so they do nothing and then act surprised when the pressure cooker of inaction blows up in their face!

Even old Wile E. Coyote tried things.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

A friend of mine is an analyst at CSE in Ottawa and pre Covid She used to travel to Virginia at least twice a year for training and conferences . Canada has not sent her or anyone in her section since 2019.Hmmm.

Travel budgets have been cut substantially over the last decade. The trend actually started under Harper and accelerated under this government. With the argument that we can simply use teleconferencing.

Another problem is that the government tends to treat national security organizations exactly the same way as other government departments, despite some of the security and relationship building needs involved.

All that said, this is one area where I expect almost no change with the next government. It would require a completely different mindset that recognizes the national security apparatus having different needs. And for all the talk, if the choice is between giving me a $5k business trip to meet my Five Eyes counterpart or to get a ribbon cutting in their riding, I expect most MPs to choose the latter, regardless of the colour of their team.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

The fixing of the low hanging fruit (foreign agent registry, clearer lines of reporting from Intelligence to Cabinet, changing the rules for party nominations) would have been so easy. But there would have been no visible "wins" so they do nothing and then act surprised when the pressure cooker of inaction blows up in their face!

Do nothing: take heat from Conservatives for not doing anything.
Do something: take heat from Conservatives for doing something.

Sure it's late, but would you rather they did nothing?

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

Canada is the only NATO Country in the Quadrant of shame as the Triangle of folks that come from Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal truly think that Security is an "American thing".

Definitely not just a TOM thing. Ask your family and friends if they would pick a tax cut or OAS increase over a larger defence budget and see the response you'll get. I am fairly sure most of this forum too would vote for their personal benefit over a defence budget increase

We didn't break 1.4% while being at war, with a supposedly pro-military Conservative government. We were down to 1% at one point. Balanced budgets and tax cuts were more important to them. So not even just a Liberal thing. We could easily hit our NATO obligation if we increased GST by 1% and put that towards defence and national security spending. Which politician would run on that platform?

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Definitely not just a TOM thing. Ask your family and friends if they would pick a tax cut or OAS increase over a larger defence budget and see the response you'll get. I am fairly sure most of this forum too would vote for their personal benefit over a defence budget increase

We didn't break 1.4% while being at war, with a supposedly pro-military Conservative government. We were down to 1% at one point. Balanced budgets and tax cuts were more important to them. So not even just a Liberal thing. We could easily hit our NATO obligation if we increased GST by 1% and put that towards defence and national security spending. Which politician would run on that platform?

At least the Americans get strong support for their military out of their jingoism. Instead, we got a bunch of Ukrainian flags and 'Support Our Troops' (but not with tax money) stickers.

What does Canada get for our supposed pride in our country? Tim Hortons (owned by a foreign company), the NHL (run from New York City), socialized healthcare (but kinda crummy, and we can't re-imagine it, and basically every other developed country has it), and our duality (but we don't actually consider to listen to our other half even when they've solid points to make about running things).

Listen to the people at the next party you attend. Don't say anything, just listen, especially if politics wanders into the conversation. It's enlightening, but depressing. These are your countrymen. They are a soft, special breed.

[Truenorth00]

We often accuse Americans for being insular because they don't know much about the world. In my experience, the average Canuck is about the same or worse. The only difference is that the Canadian believes they are better because they are not American. Which is strange, because we share their utter inability to learn from the rest of the world.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

We often accuse Americans for being insular because they don't know much about the world. In my experience, the average Canuck is about the same or worse. The only difference is that the Canadian believes they are better because they are not American. Which is strange, because we share their utter inability to learn from the rest of the world.

"Average Canuck" is setting the bar for relevance pretty low, istm.

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Travel budgets have been cut substantially over the last decade. The trend actually started under Harper and accelerated under this government. With the argument that we can simply use teleconferencing.

Another problem is that the government tends to treat national security organizations exactly the same way as other government departments, despite some of the security and relationship building needs involved.

All that said, this is one area where I expect almost no change with the next government. It would require a completely different mindset that recognizes the national security apparatus having different needs. And for all the talk, if the choice is between giving me a $5k business trip to meet my Five Eyes counterpart or to get a ribbon cutting in their riding, I expect most MPs to choose the latter, regardless of the colour of their team.

You are bang on True.Its all about the Social media clicks and likes, damn the policy.

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by thewave46

Listen to the people at the next party you attend. Don't say anything, just listen, especially if politics wanders into the conversation. It's enlightening, but depressing. These are your countrymen. They are a soft, special breed.

Not only that but entitled, absolutely no shame in being the big Mooch at the NATO party. Thank God for the Dedication and professionalism of folks like True North. We would be truly bonked without our dedicated folks.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

"Average Canuck" is setting the bar for relevance pretty low, istm.

Very relevant. Pretty close to the average voter.