This past week, Hub readers engaged in discussions over Canada’s defence spending problem, why the Trans Mountain pipeline was worth every penny, how America could affect Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford’s big electric vehicle bet, and how a collapse in resource and energy investment is contributing to weak economic growth.
The goal of Hub Forum is to bring the impressive knowledge and experience of The Hub community to the fore and to foster open dialogue and the competition of differing ideas in a respectful and productive manner. Here are some of the most interesting comments from this past week.
Sign up for our daily Hub Forum email newsletter today.
Just how bad is Canada’s defence spending problem? Downright disastrous—with little hope in sight
Monday, April 29, 2024
“Canada has been free-riding on the U.S. for many years. With current developments in the world, it is time for us to contribute [militarily] in a meaningful way.”
— Gordon Divitt
“Canada has not taken defence seriously for at least 30 years. We need to re-evaluate whether our existing commitments make sense, whether new priorities need to be addressed and what kind of capabilities are most effective and complementary to the USA.”
— Greg
“A key problem with Canada’s defence policy reviews and resulting policy is they are not anchored on and subordinate to comprehensive and up-to-date foreign policy. A defence policy—along with trade and other policy elements—is a means to attain specific foreign policy ends.”
— Ian Gray
The Trans Mountain pipeline was worth every penny of its $34 billion price tag
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
“Glad it’s done—it only took 11 years, which is probably record time for a project in Canada, and boy, I’d like to know how it managed to cost that much. But I think we know. To whom will the government now give it?”
— Peter Menzies
“Will the huge subsidies for the automotive companies announced by the Ontario and federal governments have the same overwhelming benefit as the Trans Mountain pipeline?”
— PH
“We should be looking at the costs, benefits, time and viability to build a further pipeline along the existing Trans Mountain Pipelines before we lose the expertise and consent that was expensively acquired with the building of the existing pipeline.”
— Mark S
Both Trump and Biden loom large over Trudeau and Ford’s big EV bet
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
“Often overlooked is that not only are taxpayers on the hook for the billions being handed out but also for the interest given that it is all borrowed money.”
— Steve
“It is in our interest to demonstrate to [Trump] that it is in America’s best interest to work together with Canada, and share, and take advantage of each country’s strengths. [We must] demonstrate where we can add value.”
— Dave Collins
The smoking gun for Canada’s weak economic growth? A collapse in energy and resource investment
Thursday, May 2, 2024
“These EV battery investments are driven more by ideology than business sense.”
— Don Morris
The Liberals are not going to fix Canada’s real defence spending problem
Friday, May 3, 2024
“We need to start any discussion about a useful and credible defence policy with the question, ‘Do we even have an up-to-date, coherent foreign policy, one designed on the real challenges of this rapidly changing world and how we need to manage our interests within it?’ If we do not, it becomes near impossible to begin selling the merits of a defence policy developed in isolation.”
— Ian Gray
“Canadians live under the protective umbrella of the U.S. military and geographical isolation of North America. As such, there is almost no perceived risk of another nation coming across our borders and it is not a priority for most. In short, we take it for granted. Therefore, not a political priority.”
— Paul Attics
“The CAF needs to be strong in order to contribute to the defence of democracy worldwide. Canada needs a strong navy to defend freedom of the seas, a strong air force to defend against any artic incursion and a strong army to assist our allies working in hotspots around the world.”
— PH
