Roundup: An investment in more artillery

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Bill Blair made an announcement yesterday related to Canada’s ability to produce more artillery, both for our domestic stockpiles and to be able to send more to Ukraine, to the tune of $4.4 million to go to two defence contractors to come up with plans to increase their production. Our inability to produce enough artillery domestically at a fast enough pace has been a problem for a while, but there has been this resistance within those same contractors to scaling up production without guaranteed, long-term plans signed with governments (as though the need and market for said artillery wasn’t obvious enough).

There are problems with some of this, however—a new production facility would need to be built, to the tune of $400 million, and you can bet that they’re going to demand that the government subsidise invest in such a facility, and it could take as long as three years to come online, which means it won’t be much help to Ukraine in the meantime. But it also makes one wonder why the company didn’t start investing on its own two years ago when the writing was on the wall, and why they have been so insistent on needing deals and funding from the government when there has clearly been a demonstrated need that they should be addressing.

It’s great that Bill Blair finally announced this kind of investment, but it feels too little and too late, but also like he’s caving into industry pressure to have the government pick up costs that they should be absorbing for their own growth and future profits, because they’re pretty much guaranteed.

Ukraine Dispatch:

A Russian attack in Kharkiv region killed two civilians, and another in the Chernihiv region. There seems to be consensus that the Russian strike on Odesa on Wednesday was aimed at port infrastructure and not president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but it reiterates how very real the stakes are. Zelenskyy has named the former top general, whom he recently dismissed, to be the next ambassador to the UK. Zelenskyy also issued a decree allowing for conscripts currently fighting to be discharged into the reserves in the next two months, in order to give them some respite. The Czech president says that their multilateral plan to buy 800,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine has secured enough funding.

Good reads:

  • At a pharmacare re-announcement, Justin Trudeau pushed back against the Chinese claim that compensation for Michael Spavor is an admission he was a spy.
  • Trudeau also was non-committal about restoring UNRWA funding (in spite of sources™ saying so), and that some pro-Palestinian protests have crossed the line.
  • Bill Blair admitted that the Canadian Forces is facing a “death spiral” on its recruitment crisis, as more people are leaving than joining.
  • The deputy minister of Public Services and Procurement says that five employees were fired or resigned last year for not disclosing conflicts of interest.
  • The RCMP union wants the Mounties to be the police of jurisdiction on Parliament Hill (which they kind of are, but the problem is the street in front is municipal).
  • A recent report shows that staff at women’s shelters are facing a burnout crisis as they are underpaid and many have to take on a second job to make ends meet.
  • The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is complaining they weren’t given an opportunity to testify about AI legislation at committee.
  • Environmental groups are calling on the federal government to step in as an Alberta test mine is being set up without proper federal permits.
  • Philippe Lagassé explores the Conservative voters’ stated desire for more defence spending with the messages the party is putting out.

Odds and Ends:

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One thought on “Roundup: An investment in more artillery”

  1. The Gov of Canada needs to look at the history of Canada producing ammunition and other military goods. We had no such problems during the 2 World wars. However our politicians again sold us down the river by their sheer incompetence. Bill Blair should be in a seniors home. As for Justin well he appears ok with 14,000 dead Palestinian children as long as it protects the Jewish vote. Justin it is high time to go. What a joke Canada has become.

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