Philippe Lagassé

Ross O'Connor @oconnor.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 09, 2024 at 02:54 UTC

I agree with much of what is said here, except one thing: that Canadians know their Arctic is vulnerable. It has been my experience that Canadians 1. don't know a damn thing about the Arctic (apart from the fact that there is one) and 2. know even less that it's undefended.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 20:36 UTC

One way to get to 2%!

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 19:59 UTC

That's why the post was about increased defence spending.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 19:58 UTC

I dunno, man. If we consider it important to detect and intercept Russian aircraft up north, and to demonstrate our deterrent capability in doing so, having a basic ability to surveil vessels in the same region rests on similar prudential planning principles.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 19:53 UTC

I'm talking about a new sub fleet. One reason it's important is to have a deterrent in our waters.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 19:52 UTC

I agree that the military is an instrument of foreign policy. But the fact that we arent facing invasion doesnt mean we dont also have domestic/continenal roles to attend to. Why does NORAD bother intercepting Russia aircraft for example? They arent invading, but we still care.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 19:50 UTC

When we were in the Turbot War, the threat of a sub off the Cdn coasts ensured the Spanish didn't send a warship. A similar logic applies in the Arctic. When the many new icebreakers China is building are sailing up there, the possibility of a sub watching and listening will be felt.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 19:42 UTC

Let's see how well 'we should get subs for overseas, not the EEZ or Arctic' goes over with Cabinet. I'd personally see no requirement for subs if our aim was only expeditionary.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 19:33 UTC

So, the CF-18s defend North America above all. The air force also does tons of SAR. The navy does domestic ops regularly and will do more with the AOPS, and the army is doing so much domestic it's hurting their ability to do international. It aint all foreign policy!

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 19:16 UTC

'hard not to be in NATO and East Asia' seems a lot looser in terms of spending $30b than 'we should be able to defend our airspace and territorial waters'

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 19:14 UTC

If we run with your logic, there are no conventional military threats to Canada, and a lot of non military threats that need attention. If that's the case, the $30b we're spending on the military could be repurposed to deal with the threats youve identified.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 18:51 UTC

Not sure Cdns are getting a good ROI on that.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 18:38 UTC

Reading this, I have to ask: why should Canada have a military at all?

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 02:34 UTC

In all seriousness, though, you've drafted an interesting set of national security challenges. Sovereignty protection, SAR, and an ability to interdict hostile vessels are basic military missions.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 02:31 UTC

Are you moonlighting as the author of the NDP's defence policy?

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 02:30 UTC

They arent invading, but they will be spying and threatening. Being able to exercise a modicum of sovereignty over territorial waters shouldnt seem like a big request.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 01:04 UTC

see OAG report on the situation: www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/Eng...

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 08, 2024 at 01:04 UTC

Our surveillance up there is paltry at best. Conventional militray threats up there are mostly airborne and undersea, but knowing what certain 'scientific' vessels are up to is a good idea.

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 07, 2024 at 21:25 UTC

New Debating Canadian Defence:

open.substack.com/pub/philippe...

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 02, 2024 at 23:12 UTC

New at Debating Canadian Defence:

"Mulroney and the challenge of defence planning"

open.substack.com/pub/philippe...

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Mar 02, 2024 at 23:12 UTC

New at Debating Canadian Defence:

"Mulroney and the challenge of defence planning"

open.substack.com/pub/philippe...

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 19:26 UTC

This week's In Defence of Westminster newsletter:

Resignations and the evolution of ministerial responsibility

open.substack.com/pub/lagassep...

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 20:41 UTC

Many thanks!

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Philippe Lagassé @plagasse.bsky.social [ View ] Feb 29, 2024 at 19:26 UTC

This week's In Defence of Westminster newsletter:

Resignations and the evolution of ministerial responsibility

open.substack.com/pub/lagassep...

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