Or the GDP that is based on real estate plummets.i smell a defence tax coming.
Canada’s Military current state & equipment
- Thread starter Ron in Regina
- Start date
Federal bank loaning $1B for BC Ferries to buy Chinese-made ships
VICTORIA — A federal Crown corporation is loaning BC Ferries $1 billion to help buy four Chinese-made ships, a purchase that federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland recently said was dismaying and should involve no federal funds.
ca.yahoo.com
BC Ferries is the Pit of Sarlacc.
Federal bank loaning $1B for BC Ferries to buy Chinese-made ships
VICTORIA — A federal Crown corporation is loaning BC Ferries $1 billion to help buy four Chinese-made ships, a purchase that federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland recently said was dismaying and should involve no federal funds.
It'll be money well worth losing, I guess. I'm thinking that these ferries will be side-lined after a few months when they've proven to be duds!!
Doesn't sound like a good thing
Gigantic Undiscovered Cave Found in British Columbia
How, in today's world, could a cave this massive go undetected for so long?
science.howstuffworks.com
Just because some been to skool types didn’t know about the cave does not mean that it was undiscovered.Doesn't sound like a good thing
Gigantic Undiscovered Cave Found in British Columbia
How, in today's world, could a cave this massive go undetected for so long?
Would be a heck of a start toward a fortress or maybe a place to grow vegetables.
To these types, "discovered" means "written up in a journal, exploited to make money, and/or the subject of litigation." As you say, it has probably been "discovered" repeatedly over the last 12,000 years or so.
I'd say any ancients who discovered it to be a cave fell into a deep hole never to resurface to spread their knowledge of a cave.
Defence spending to add ’staggering’ sum to deficit by 2035: Think-tank
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Craig Lord
Published Jul 03, 2025 • 3 minute read
OTTAWA — The C.D. Howe Institute predicts Ottawa’s recently announced spending plans — which include a much bigger defence budget — will drive its deficits markedly higher in the coming years.
In a new analysis released Thursday, the think-tank said it expects Canada’s deficit to top $92 billion this fiscal year, given Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to meet NATO’s defence spending target of 2% of GDP.
C.D. Howe expects deficit growth to slow after this year but predicts deficits will still average around $78 billion annually over four years — more than double the level forecast by the parliamentary budget officer before the spring federal election.
But the report also considers this an “optimistic” scenario that takes into account “speculative savings” in the form of new revenues and cost-cutting efficiencies outlined in the Liberals’ spring election platform.
If those savings aren’t realized, C.D. Howe estimates the federal deficit would average closer to $86 billion per year over the same time frame.
Carney’s defence spending announcement in early June came with an extra $9.3 billion in spending this year. He made the commitment before NATO allies pledged at last month’s summit to ramp defence and security budgets up to 5% of GDP by 2035.
C.D. Howe’s analysis sees defence spending adding a “staggering” $68.4 billion to the federal deficit a decade from now.
In addition to accelerating defence spending, the Liberals recently pushed forward legislation to speed up major project development and delivered a one-point cut to the lowest income tax rate.
The Liberal government did not publish a spring budget this year and has said it will instead push the planned fiscal update to the fall.
In its report, the C.D. Howe Institute accuses Ottawa of making “costly commitments” without showing the numbers to Canadians — but that’s not the only area where the think-tank says the Liberals are falling short on accountability.
Carney also announced a plan earlier this year to separate Ottawa’s budget into capital and operating streams, and to balance the operating side of the equation in three years.
C.D. Howe said the rationale for introducing separate streams is “unclear” and could deal “a serious blow to transparency and accountability” if major changes are made to how the government defines capital or operating costs.
“Without clear standards audited by independent sources, this approach is ripe for abuse,” the report says.
The Canadian Press reached out to Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne for a comment but has not received a response.
C.D. Howe calls on the government to make steeper cuts to program spending and reduce federal transfers to provinces.
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux also did not issue any deficit forecasts in a limited economic and fiscal update published last month. He blamed the lack of an update on Ottawa’s decision to forego a spring fiscal update and the fact that he still doesn’t know how the government is defining its operating and capital spending streams.
In pre-election estimates that did not account for the impacts of the trade war, the PBO predicted the federal deficit would come in at $42 billion for this fiscal year.
Giroux said in an interview with The Canadian Press in June that he now pegs that figure at between $60 billion and $70 billion.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Craig Lord
Published Jul 03, 2025 • 3 minute read
OTTAWA — The C.D. Howe Institute predicts Ottawa’s recently announced spending plans — which include a much bigger defence budget — will drive its deficits markedly higher in the coming years.
In a new analysis released Thursday, the think-tank said it expects Canada’s deficit to top $92 billion this fiscal year, given Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to meet NATO’s defence spending target of 2% of GDP.
C.D. Howe expects deficit growth to slow after this year but predicts deficits will still average around $78 billion annually over four years — more than double the level forecast by the parliamentary budget officer before the spring federal election.
But the report also considers this an “optimistic” scenario that takes into account “speculative savings” in the form of new revenues and cost-cutting efficiencies outlined in the Liberals’ spring election platform.
If those savings aren’t realized, C.D. Howe estimates the federal deficit would average closer to $86 billion per year over the same time frame.
Carney’s defence spending announcement in early June came with an extra $9.3 billion in spending this year. He made the commitment before NATO allies pledged at last month’s summit to ramp defence and security budgets up to 5% of GDP by 2035.
C.D. Howe’s analysis sees defence spending adding a “staggering” $68.4 billion to the federal deficit a decade from now.
In addition to accelerating defence spending, the Liberals recently pushed forward legislation to speed up major project development and delivered a one-point cut to the lowest income tax rate.
The Liberal government did not publish a spring budget this year and has said it will instead push the planned fiscal update to the fall.
In its report, the C.D. Howe Institute accuses Ottawa of making “costly commitments” without showing the numbers to Canadians — but that’s not the only area where the think-tank says the Liberals are falling short on accountability.
Carney also announced a plan earlier this year to separate Ottawa’s budget into capital and operating streams, and to balance the operating side of the equation in three years.
C.D. Howe said the rationale for introducing separate streams is “unclear” and could deal “a serious blow to transparency and accountability” if major changes are made to how the government defines capital or operating costs.
“Without clear standards audited by independent sources, this approach is ripe for abuse,” the report says.
The Canadian Press reached out to Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne for a comment but has not received a response.
C.D. Howe calls on the government to make steeper cuts to program spending and reduce federal transfers to provinces.
Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux also did not issue any deficit forecasts in a limited economic and fiscal update published last month. He blamed the lack of an update on Ottawa’s decision to forego a spring fiscal update and the fact that he still doesn’t know how the government is defining its operating and capital spending streams.
In pre-election estimates that did not account for the impacts of the trade war, the PBO predicted the federal deficit would come in at $42 billion for this fiscal year.
Giroux said in an interview with The Canadian Press in June that he now pegs that figure at between $60 billion and $70 billion.
Defence spending to add ’staggering’ sum to deficit by 2035: Think-tank
In a new analysis released Thursday, the C.D. Howe Institute said it expects Canada's deficit to top $92 billion this fiscal year.
They aren't spending it on arms.
The NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program, based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, is undergoing significant infrastructure development as part of the larger Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program. This expansion includes new facilities like hangars, training facilities, and classrooms, as well as the acquisition of new training aircraft. The program, a partnership between the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and industry partners like CAE and SkyAlyne, aims to modernize and enhance pilot training for both Canada and allied nations.
Key aspects of the construction and expansion:
New Facilities:
The project includes the construction of new hangars, training facilities, classrooms, and other infrastructure to support the FAcT program.
Aircraft Acquisition:
SkyAlyne, the main contractor, is acquiring new training aircraft, including Airbus H135 helicopters, Grob G 120TP aircraft, and Pilatus PC-21 aircraft.
Program Integration:
The FAcT program combines existing pilot training programs, including those at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, into a single, comprehensive training system.
Economic Impact:
The expansion is expected to have a positive economic impact on Moose Jaw, with increased business activity and job creation.
Long-Term Partnership:
The FAcT program is a long-term commitment, with a 25-year contract in place.
15 Wing Moose Jaw's Role:
Principal Site:
15 Wing Moose Jaw is the primary location for the NFTC program and serves as the center for RCAF aircrew training.
Training Excellence:
The wing is a center of excellence for pilot training, producing approximately 110 qualified pilots per year.
Critical Infrastructure:
The facilities at 15 Wing, including flight training facilities, dining halls, recreation units, hangars, and administration services, are maintained to a high standard.
International Program:
The NFTC program trains pilots from Canada and other NATO countries.
Overall, the construction and expansion at 15 Wing Moose Jaw are part of a larger effort to modernize and enhance aircrew training capabilities for the RCAF and its allies, ensuring a steady supply of well-trained pilots for the future.