Harjit Sajjan: Meet Canada's new 'badass' defence minister

We'll see if he has the willingness to maintain or even increase the number of ships on order, increase the size of Canada's reg force to a full heavy mechanised division, and actually get the fighter procurement program in order... Never mind things like new anti-sub/naval aircraft, new rescue planes, new subs, etc.

Effectively, the prodigal son has to sign off on even more kit for the CF than his dad did in the 80s. As much as we like to rip into Trudeau Sr. over his military portfolio, he is responsible for many of the procurement programs that lead to the kit we have today. I hope his son is able to follow suite in that regard without implementing similar troop cuts.

Seems like he has the creds. It will be nice having an actual cabinet govern again, instead of 2 dozen parrots toeing the masters line.

It's not really the Defence Minister's call, given the cost. My guess is that while we will see some procurement, there is not going to be any renaissance in military spending.

The day that they give Canada's participation in the F-35 program the heave-ho will be a great day for the entire country.

It'd be a great day for the Navy if that happened. Not so much for the Air Force.




Call me cynical but I have my doubts we'll see either of those things happen. First off, the J35 Program was a Liberal baby conceived by his mentor Jean Chretien so, sinking it would be a slap in the face of the party and specifically the backroom boys. Secondly, plowing the saved money into the Navy would start the biggest battle between the Services we've seen since his other mentor Paul Hellyer decided to amalgamate the 3 into a giant mass of green confusion.

The Navy not withstanding, the only way he gets away with sinking the program is if he has another fighter lined up to take the J35's place which, given military procurement isn't likely to happen in his lifetime.

Not just kit ... good kit. It seems that the acquisition process went way off the rails and became totally politicised. You wonder the Forces had any say in any of the big purchases.

It'd be a great day for the Navy if that happened. Not so much for the Air Force.




Call me cynical but I have my doubts we'll see either of those things happen. First off, the J35 Program was a Liberal baby conceived by his mentor Jean Chretien so, sinking it would be a slap in the face of the party and specifically the backroom boys. Secondly, plowing the saved money into the Navy would start the biggest battle between the Services we've seen since his other mentor Paul Hellyer decided to amalgamate the 3 into a giant mass of green confusion.

The Navy not withstanding, the only way he gets away with sinking the program is if he has another fighter lined up to take the J35's place which, given military procurement isn't likely to happen in his lifetime.

You've served on ancient ships. When we buy ships, they last pretty damned near to a half a century. The upfront costs are huge but the amortization is long, long. $ per year to maintain a barebones Navy is negligable for the 12th largest economy on the planet.

It'd be a great day for the Navy if that happened. Not so much for the Air Force.




Call me cynical but I have my doubts we'll see either of those things happen. First off, the J35 Program was a Liberal baby conceived by his mentor Jean Chretien so, sinking it would be a slap in the face of the party and specifically the backroom boys. Secondly, plowing the saved money into the Navy would start the biggest battle between the Services we've seen since his other mentor Paul Hellyer decided to amalgamate the 3 into a giant mass of green confusion.

The Navy not withstanding, the only way he gets away with sinking the program is if he has another fighter lined up to take the J35's place which, given military procurement isn't likely to happen in his lifetime.

Chretien was JT's mentor??? Are you sure about that???

JC wac JTs mentor?

It's not really the Defence Minister's call, given the cost. My guess is that while we will see some procurement, there is not going to be any renaissance in military spending.

While the decision to spend money isn't his, he can look at needs and offer his advice on what is desperately needed and in what order.

I'm hoping they can get started on the Single Class Combatant right away and rebuild our DDHs as well as buy Super Hornets or some other twin engine fighter for the air force.

It'd be a great day for the Navy if that happened. Not so much for the Air Force.




Call me cynical but I have my doubts we'll see either of those things happen. First off, the J35 Program was a Liberal baby conceived by his mentor Jean Chretien so, sinking it would be a slap in the face of the party and specifically the backroom boys. Secondly, plowing the saved money into the Navy would start the biggest battle between the Services we've seen since his other mentor Paul Hellyer decided to amalgamate the 3 into a giant mass of green confusion.

The Navy not withstanding, the only way he gets away with sinking the program is if he has another fighter lined up to take the J35's place which, given military procurement isn't likely to happen in his lifetime.

You've served on ancient ships. When we buy ships, they last pretty damned near to a half a century. The upfront costs are huge but the amortization is long, long. $ per year to maintain a barebones Navy is negligable for the 12th largest economy on the planet.

And our planes last? We need both, maybe not the F35 but still new planes of some type. FFS the Air Force used T33's till 2005.

So the reality is that the problem isn't with the platforms or the Services it's with the successive gov'ts who since the middle 60's have underfunded, ignored or stripped the military of it's resources, people and soul.

Although, I'm pretty sure that when Justin decides to look seriously at pulling out of the F35 Program and weighs it against the 145 Billion worth of promises he made on the campaign trail, he's going to do what Gov'ts have done since before his dad took office and that's, to take the money promised for new ships, and planes then plow it right into worthy programs like the "Court Challenges Program" where "we" the taxpayers fund groups to sue "we" the Gov't.

It'd be a great day for the Navy if that happened. Not so much for the Air Force.




Call me cynical but I have my doubts we'll see either of those things happen. First off, the J35 Program was a Liberal baby conceived by his mentor Jean Chretien so, sinking it would be a slap in the face of the party and specifically the backroom boys. Secondly, plowing the saved money into the Navy would start the biggest battle between the Services we've seen since his other mentor Paul Hellyer decided to amalgamate the 3 into a giant mass of green confusion.

The Navy not withstanding, the only way he gets away with sinking the program is if he has another fighter lined up to take the J35's place which, given military procurement isn't likely to happen in his lifetime.

Chretien was JT's mentor??? Are you sure about that???

Nope but what other reason would there be for trotting out an old despised PM with a jaded past.




http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comme ... and-martin

That's what being a Liberal us supposed to be about - when presented with the facts they ARE CAPABLE of changing their mind. You know, as opposed to circling the wagons and never, ever reconsidering no matter what (because changing your mind is wishy-washy)

Yawn.

Can't wait to see the awesome military he'll predictably plan to build that will never get built.