Roundup: New subs on the menu

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We all knew it was coming, but the day finally arrived—the announcement that yes, Canada is officially embarking on a new submarine fleet, that we’re planning for up to twelve (from the current four), and that they will be conventionally powered and not nuclear (so no, we won’t be getting into the AUKUS nuclear subs club).

This is going to push us past the two percent spending target for NATO, but it does amaze me that the government waited until this long at the NATO conference to announce it, after they spent the past two days being punching bags for American congressmen and senators who want to look tough and make a point, while also feeding the bullshit narrative back home that the Elder Pundits have decreed we must follow. You would think that the supposed communications geniuses that this government purports to employ would get ahead of the entire situation, but no, that is apparently beyond their capabilities. Hermes wept; this government is so gods damned incompetent at these kinds of things that should be absolute gimmes. Cripes.

Meanwhile, the CBC tried to pin down the Conservatives on their totally serious plan to both “move toward” meeting the NATO target (note the hedging language that does not say they promise to meet it—remember, the Conservatives love “aspirational” targets that they can pay lip service toward with no intention of ever meeting), while cutting the budget overall (that means cuts at defence because that’s the easiest target and most able to push back capital expenditures). Unsurprisingly, the Conservative wouldn’t actually give direct answers, nor would they say what they mean by restoring “warrior” and not “woke” culture in the Forces. Of course, that’s generally code for the culture of toxic masculinity that got the military into so much trouble in the first place, with both sexual misconduct and abuse of power, but these guys are up late watching bro culture videos on YouTube, so they know all about “warrior culture.”

Ukraine Dispatch

A Russian missile strike in the Mykolaiv region has killed one and injured eight including a local mayor. A combined drone and missile attack on Odesa has killed two and damaged port infrastructure. Russian forces also claim to have taken control of Yasnobrodivka in the Donetsk region, which Ukraine won’t confirm. Ukraine’s top prosecutor alleges that Russians killed two prisoners of war from the Zaporizhzhia region. Here’s a look at why the incoming F-16 fighters likely won’t have an immediate impact on the war.

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau pledged another $500 million in military assistance to Ukraine.
  • Canadian security officials are warning that a Russian bot farm is spreading propaganda and disinformation over Twitter using AI.
  • Jewish community groups are taking the CFIA to court over slaughter rules that impact the ability to do it in a kosher manner.
  • Conrad Black is no longer a member of the House of Lords because of a lack of attendance.
  • Supreme Court of Canada Justice Mahmud Jamal is recusing himself from the forthcoming “secularism” bill hearing after a completely bullshit request.
  • Liberal MP Michael McLeod from the Northwest Territories isn’t running again.
  • Alberta’s Auditor General has cast serious doubts on the province’s surface water management plan, which is increasingly necessary as drought is more common.
  • Kevin Carmichael delves into the self-employment figures and wonders if there is a crisis of entrepreneurship (but misses the part about the effect of the pandemic).
  • Paul Wells looks at the recent and ongoing elections around us, and weaves a tale that brings us back to Mark Carney and the current domestic situation.

Odds and ends:

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