Author Topic: The Canadian Federal Budget Thread  (Read 577 times)

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Offline JMT

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Re: The Canadian Federal Budget Thread
« Reply #15 on: March 23, 2017, 04:08:19 pm »
That's total BS. Are you hiding under your bed in terror that a general might say something unpleasant to you? Because you make it sound like the Trudeau government is. Where's the leadership? They need twenty years to get hold of DNDs procurement issues? Seriously!? The Tories were at least able to buy stuff when they felt we needed it, even if it was without a competition.

In my view, this is what needs to happen.  We simply have to give up on the idea of open competitions and just buy things.  It worked for the Conservatives, and it could work now.

But yes, I do think that DND is that broken.  Projects are decades behind.  The money is useless now.

Offline ?Impact

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Re: The Canadian Federal Budget Thread
« Reply #16 on: March 23, 2017, 06:23:46 pm »
Why should I be happy with a promise to run deficits forever?

No, that is a bad situation. The fact is however Liberals have decreased the debt:gdp ratio in their previous term, and promise to do the same this term. Conservatives on the other hand have a long history of only increasing it (Mulroney was the worst, but even Harper increased it).

Offline JMT

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Re: The Canadian Federal Budget Thread
« Reply #17 on: March 23, 2017, 06:29:35 pm »
No, that is a bad situation. The fact is however Liberals have decreased the debt:gdp ratio in their previous term, and promise to do the same this term. Conservatives on the other hand have a long history of only increasing it (Mulroney was the worst, but even Harper increased it).

I believe in the end that Harper actually decreased it, from 34% to 31%.  Trudeau is set to decrease that further to 30% in his first term.  The deficits after this year (the sub $15B ones) are really a non issue.

Offline ?Impact

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Re: The Canadian Federal Budget Thread
« Reply #18 on: March 24, 2017, 03:18:55 pm »
I believe in the end that Harper actually decreased it, from 34% to 31%.  Trudeau is set to decrease that further to 30% in his first term.  The deficits after this year (the sub $15B ones) are really a non issue.
Harper inherited 31.5% and left with 31.0%. The other problem is he also inherited a massive budget surplus that brought it down to 28.1% before he started jacking it up again.

Offline SirJohn

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Re: The Canadian Federal Budget Thread
« Reply #19 on: March 24, 2017, 03:21:48 pm »
In my view, this is what needs to happen.  We simply have to give up on the idea of open competitions and just buy things.  It worked for the Conservatives, and it could work now.

But yes, I do think that DND is that broken.  Projects are decades behind.  The money is useless now.

It's not useless. We need trucks. Go buy some friggen trucks. How hard is that? Appoint me as defense minister and I'd go to the nearest base, grab up a couple of  senior NCO's from the truck repair depot and take them to look at some trucks submitted by those who build these things for the US and British. See which one they prefer, then buy the damn things. We need more LAVs. Buy the same ones we have now but upgraded. We need new fighters. Invite a few fighter pilots and whatever general is in charge of fighters to a room to discuss with me what plane they want, then buy it.
« Last Edit: March 24, 2017, 03:24:16 pm by SirJohn »
"When liberals insist that only fascists will defend borders then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't do." David Frum

Offline JMT

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Re: The Canadian Federal Budget Thread
« Reply #20 on: March 24, 2017, 04:13:01 pm »
I'm pretty sure we're buying tracks right now - I think the problem is a lawsuit - the same problem that will now potentially delay FWSAR (this despite requirements being designed by the NRC, and a fairness monitor signing off on the whole thing).

Offline SirJohn

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Re: The Canadian Federal Budget Thread
« Reply #21 on: March 25, 2017, 02:44:29 pm »
I'm pretty sure we're buying tracks right now - I think the problem is a lawsuit - the same problem that will now potentially delay FWSAR (this despite requirements being designed by the NRC, and a fairness monitor signing off on the whole thing).

**** em (I know you like cursing). Buy what we need and deal with the courts later.
"When liberals insist that only fascists will defend borders then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't do." David Frum

Offline JMT

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Re: The Canadian Federal Budget Thread
« Reply #22 on: March 25, 2017, 06:45:46 pm »
**** em (I know you like cursing). Buy what we need and deal with the courts later.

I'm of the mind that we should just change the rules altogether.  It's our own rules that allow them to sue.  Lets just go buy what we need when we need it.

Offline SirJohn

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Re: The Canadian Federal Budget Thread
« Reply #23 on: March 26, 2017, 11:49:21 am »
I'm of the mind that we should just change the rules altogether.  It's our own rules that allow them to sue.  Lets just go buy what we need when we need it.

You could order new LAVs, new trucks, new artillery, and new fighters in a week's time. I don't see how these multi-year long studies have ever accomplished a damned thing anyway, given some of the purchases we've made in the past (Iltis anyone?). Take a couple of mid-range officers who actually use the equipment and kick a few tires, talk it over and then make the order.
"When liberals insist that only fascists will defend borders then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't do." David Frum