Roundup: The capacity to spend

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One of the constant refrains since the Trump election is that Canada needs to get serious about increasing out defence spending faster, or he’ll be mean to us in NATO, or something like that. While I would note that he’ll be mean to us regardless because that’s who he is, and that he’s never understood how NATO actually works, so whether or not our spending is above 2 percent of GDP or not is almost a moot question. But the biggest consideration is actually whether we actually have the capacity to spend more.

The thing is, defence spending has gone up significantly, but the military lapses some of that spending on a yearly basis because they just can’t get that spending out of the door, for various reasons, including the fact that they simply don’t have the personnel to do everything that needs to be done, and you can’t just hire someone off the street in most of these cases—military personnel is just that, and they take time to train and rise up through the ranks appropriately. Add in the recruitment and retention crisis (thanks to sexual misconduct and abuse of power in the General Officer and Flag Officer ranks), and it makes it even harder.

Nevertheless, here’s Philippe Lagassé with some thoughts on building the capacity to spend more.

Ukraine Dispatch

It appears that Russia has fired cruise missiles against Kyiv for the first time in two months, not just drones. The US confirms that North Korean troops are now fighting alongside Russian forces.

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau was in Fredericton to meet new premier Susan Holt, and discussed carbon pricing and a school food programme.
  • Chrystia Freeland says that the carbon rebates for small businesses will be tax-free after swirling misinformation on social media claimed otherwise.
  • Steve MacKinnon is again calling on the Industrial Relations Board to issue binding arbitration in three port labour disruptions, citing the broader economic damage.
  • Steven Guilbeault says that Trump’s election isn’t stopping Canada’s climate action, which included a new climate financing initiative for developing countries.
  • François-Philippe Champagne helped launch the Canadian AI Safety Institute, to help test AI models and study their risks.
  • A CBSA superintendent is back on the job after being investigated for claims made by the Indian government involving murder and terrorism, but offered no evidence.
  • Canada Post issued a lockout notice after the union issued a strike notice.
  • The Privacy Commissioner is opening an investigation into the World Anti-Doping Agency’s handling of biological samples, which were improperly used.
  • A PC campaign manager in Nova Scotia has resigned after allegations he was attempting to buy votes with Tim Hortons gift cards.
  • Doug Ford mused about kicking Mexico out of trade agreements because of potential Chinese trans-shipment (which isn’t his call, but “stay in your lane.”)
  • Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie is promising tax cuts and an HST cut on home heating, and I just can’t even.
  • Former BC premier John Horgan died at age 65 after his third bout of cancer.
  • Kathryn May explains the likelihood of layoffs in the civil service as the government continues to miss their targets for savings.
  • Anne Applebaum looks at the two months the Biden administration has left to provide meaningful aid to Ukraine before Trump comes to power.
  • My column looks at how neutered the Leader of the Government in the Senate has made himself, and why that needs to change sooner rather than later.

Odds and ends:

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