Canada’s Military current state & equipment
- Thread starter Ron in Regina
- Start date
In my estimation there are many that would do the job for all the reasons you list at 1/3 of the remuneration package that is the current standard. Unfortunately those people are not welcomed by the vast majority of the public service who enjoy things the way they are. No one has a better deal and let's keep it that way should be there motto.
To answer the second question, sociopaths like to hire other sociopaths and even more so when they are related. That way they all agree to pay themselves more.
What burns me is for them to earn in the top 1% during their working days and then to receive a golden pension above and beyond what regular Canadians get. If they haven't been able to build a nest egg before retiring at that level of income they don' deserve more imo. Paying out six figure pensions to 80 and 90 year old people is a huge waste but good for the banks where it sits.
And on, and on, and on
Top earners where I live are all public employees. Cute that they refer to themselves as servants.
Funny that you think I'd fall for you moving the goalposts from "top earners are civil servants" to "civil servants are top earners."
Nice try, though.
- Overall average: The average annual salary for all full-time Canadian workers in 2023 was less than $70,000, while the average total compensation for a full-time federal employee was $125,300, according to a 2023 report from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
- As of April 1, 2024, the federal public service had 367,772 employees. This number includes employees in the core public service and broader public sector agencies.
That's too many. We have 2.9 million civilian Federal employees, out of a population of 326 million. Your average compensation tells me the civil service is top-heavy. See my thread on "How to Reduce the Federal Workforce" for how to reduce it without going all Trumpy.
Or, follow Dozy Don and be as cruel about it as you can, to make the Albertans and Saskatchewanners happy. Your pick.
AI Overview
Gripen fighter planes are currently manufactured in
Sweden and Brazil. The primary manufacturer is the Swedish aerospace company Saab AB.
Gripen fighter planes are currently manufactured in
Sweden and Brazil. The primary manufacturer is the Swedish aerospace company Saab AB.
- Sweden: The main production facility and site for parts integration and final assembly is located in Linköping.
- Brazil: Saab has a local production line for the Brazilian Air Force's (FAB) ordered aircraft. Final assembly occurs at a facility managed by the Brazilian aerospace company Embraer in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo.
Canadian soldiers leaving military due to bad housing and health care
Author of the article
ostmedia News
Published Nov 25, 2025 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 2 minute read
There’s no life like it as long as you don’t care about a decent roof over your head or waiting in line to get a doctor. Read on.
A Canadian flag patch on a soldier's uniform.
There’s no life like it as long as you don’t care about a decent roof over your head or waiting in line to get a doctor.
An internal report says more volunteers are leaving the Canadian Armed Forces due to inadequate housing and health care, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
“In 2024, over 10% of the total number of Canadian Armed Forces members were relocated,” said the report.
“High housing costs made worse by the lack of military housing, loss of spousal employment, shortages in primary health-care providers and limited daycare spaces can lead to financial and personal hardships for military members.”
Waiting lists are daunting
The Evaluation Of Canadian Armed Forces Retention report says waits for daycare at an military base could run 32 months patients and for housing, it was even longer.
Researchers said more soldiers, sailors and air crew would sooner hand in their pink slips than relocate and face new waiting lists.
“The number of dual income families in Canada has doubled over the last 40 years and for military families, the prospect of losing a second income makes a geographic move untenable,” said the report.
“Loss of primary health care and daycare also puts additional strain on families who must repeat the process with each move.”
The report says the attrition rate for junior ranks, including young parents, was 9.4%.
This follows an Oct. 21 study by Auditor General Karen Hogan that rated some military housing unfit for habitation.
Non-working toilets
“Toilets weren’t working, or there was structural damage to the exterior walls of the building,” Hogan told reporters at the time.
“We were able to look at 45 buildings that were on these (three) bases. I can tell you the average age was over 60 years old. In fact one building was built in 1930.”
The audit, Housing Canadian Armed Forces Members, counted 3,706 military on waiting lists for 205 residential units.
The military is Canada’s second largest landlord with 21,000 buildings under its management.
“Approximately 25% of existing infrastructure is greater than 50 years old and requires significant maintenance, repair and recapitalization to ensure it remains serviceable and compliant with health, safety and environment regulations,” said a 2024 Audit Of Defence Infrastructure.
torontosun.com
Author of the article
ostmedia NewsPublished Nov 25, 2025 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 2 minute read
There’s no life like it as long as you don’t care about a decent roof over your head or waiting in line to get a doctor. Read on.
A Canadian flag patch on a soldier's uniform.
There’s no life like it as long as you don’t care about a decent roof over your head or waiting in line to get a doctor.
An internal report says more volunteers are leaving the Canadian Armed Forces due to inadequate housing and health care, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
“In 2024, over 10% of the total number of Canadian Armed Forces members were relocated,” said the report.
“High housing costs made worse by the lack of military housing, loss of spousal employment, shortages in primary health-care providers and limited daycare spaces can lead to financial and personal hardships for military members.”
Waiting lists are daunting
The Evaluation Of Canadian Armed Forces Retention report says waits for daycare at an military base could run 32 months patients and for housing, it was even longer.
Researchers said more soldiers, sailors and air crew would sooner hand in their pink slips than relocate and face new waiting lists.
“The number of dual income families in Canada has doubled over the last 40 years and for military families, the prospect of losing a second income makes a geographic move untenable,” said the report.
“Loss of primary health care and daycare also puts additional strain on families who must repeat the process with each move.”
The report says the attrition rate for junior ranks, including young parents, was 9.4%.
This follows an Oct. 21 study by Auditor General Karen Hogan that rated some military housing unfit for habitation.
Non-working toilets
“Toilets weren’t working, or there was structural damage to the exterior walls of the building,” Hogan told reporters at the time.
“We were able to look at 45 buildings that were on these (three) bases. I can tell you the average age was over 60 years old. In fact one building was built in 1930.”
The audit, Housing Canadian Armed Forces Members, counted 3,706 military on waiting lists for 205 residential units.
The military is Canada’s second largest landlord with 21,000 buildings under its management.
“Approximately 25% of existing infrastructure is greater than 50 years old and requires significant maintenance, repair and recapitalization to ensure it remains serviceable and compliant with health, safety and environment regulations,” said a 2024 Audit Of Defence Infrastructure.
Canadian soldiers leaving military due to bad housing and health care
There’s no life like it as long as you don’t care about a decent roof over your head or waiting in line to get a doctor. Read on.
Hmmm…U.S. F-35 fighter jets were available to fly only half the time in 2024 due to maintenance shortcomings by Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), a report from the Defense Department's Office of the Inspector General said.
The availability of F-35 aircraft in 2024 was 50%, 17% below the minimum performance requirement, the Pentagon watchdog said.
According to the report, the average availability rate of F-35s was 50% because "(the Pentagon) did not always hold Lockheed Martin accountable for poor performance related to F-35 sustainment."
"This occurred because the F-35 JPO did not include aircraft readiness performance or other measurable contract requirements and did not enforce material inspection and government property reporting requirements in the AVS contract," the report said. Rest at the below link:
US watchdog says F-35s flew half the time in 2024 due to Lockheed maintenance issues — Reuters
U.S. F-35 fighter jets were available to fly only half the time in 2024 due to maintenance shortcomings by Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), a report from the Defense Department's Office of the Inspector General said.
I wonder how high “high operational readiness” is as a %’age to compare apples to apples here?
Saab JAS 39 Gripen - Wikipedia
- While highly available, recent assessments (like those for Canada) show the Gripen E scoring lower than the F-35 in overall military capability, though it excels in sustainment and lower costs.
- Despite the F-35's technological edge, the Gripen's core strengths in rapid deployment and cost-effectiveness keep it competitive, with ongoing developments in the Gripen E/F variant.
While the federal government has already put down its money for the first 16 warplanes, which are due to be delivered early next year, Blair is suggesting that the first F-35s might be accepted and the remainder of the fleet would be made up of aircraft from European suppliers, such as the Swedish-built Saab Gripen, which finished second in the competition.
That was an indirect reference to the original Swedish proposal, which promised that the Gripen E would be built in Canada by IMP Aerospace and Defence and that there would be a transfer of intellectual property, which would allow the aircraft to be maintained in this country. Additionally, the Gripen E would be cheaper than the F-35, at least when it comes to long-term maintenance.
Should Canada consider a mixed fighter fleet? - Canadian Defence
Canada is looking at potential alternatives to the US-built F-35 fighter fleet and will hold conversations with rival aircraft manufacturers
canadiandefencereview.com
Yep, and we picked the F-35 over the F-22 because the 22 was "too expensive."
Nothing more expensive than hangar queens.
Nothing more expensive than hangar queens.
But they last a long time. Since the Canadian air force does not have the budget for fuel or parts, it tends to balance out.
Mobilization Plan Charlie calls for creation of volunteer 'Maple Leaf Battalion'
Former NDP Member of Parliament and leadership hopeful has a far-out plan to defend Canada
Author of the article:Robert Smol
Published Jan 03, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
File photo of Canadian Forces.
File photo of Canadian Forces. Photo by FILE PHOTO /POSTMEDIA NETWORK
In recent weeks, I have been both enthralled and perplexed by the over-the-top, literal call-to-arms from former NDP MP Charlie Angus.
As many of us might recall, Angus was once a serious contender for the NDP leadership. He is now a regular contributor on the popular anti-Trump American YouTube Channel Meidas Touch.
As a result, Angus is gaining popularity among impressionable anti-MAGA youth in the United States, many of whom now believe Canada under Carney is preparing to mobilize militarily against Donald Trump and the United States.
From a military planning perspective, such mobilization might seem reasonable, but given our current state of preparedness, it is not realistic.
Especially now that Charlie Angus wants to encourage Canada to raise a new volunteer militia battalion to help protect this nation.
“In reality,” he states on his Substack, “the government is sending a message to Donald Trump.”
“This is about being prepared” Angus further states on his Meidas Touch broadcast to his American and Canadian followers. “This is about being ready for whatever comes.”
He then goes further stating that his proposal for a militia battalion is “sending a message that Canada is not going to be pushed around.”
Charlie Angus(files)
Charlie Angus(files)
Wow!
I never thought one who served in the endemically anti-military, pacifist NDP caucus for years would become such a jingoistic warmonger. At least that is what card-carrying members of the NDP often labelled me simply for suggesting that Canada meet the basic NATO standard for military preparedness.
And let’s not forget that Charlie Angus’ NDP was the party that, at its convention back in 2021, had a resolution on its agenda to abolish, yes, abolish the Canadian Armed Forces.
It is also common knowledge among military historians that the NDP, until some years ago, wanted Canada to withdraw from NATO. Trump would certainly have admired the NDP for that had they been elected and acted on their anti-NATO stance.
It is also well known that the NDP has consistently opposed nearly every attempt, successful or unsuccessful, to re-equip the armed forces over the past few decades.
But for Angus and his followers, that century of pacifist, anti-military, anti-NATO sentiment among the NDP and the left is now just spent marijuana smoke in the earth’s troposphere.
So here is a summary of the key objectives of what I like to call Mobilization Plan Charlie.
“This will be a volunteer army trained in weapons and the use of drones,” the former musician states in his Substack.
His proposed name for this “army” or “battalion” (he mistakenly uses the two terms interchangeably) would be the Maple Leaf Battalion.
Excuse me for a moment, Charlie, but Canada already has a volunteer army trained, as much as the government might allow, in the use of weapons, including drones. This includes dozens of reserve units.
And may I add that many of those reserve units – such as The Royal Montreal Regiment, the Queen’s Own Rifles, The Toronto Scottish, and the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, to name a few – already have the maple leaf showing prominently in their unit badges.
Angus also suggests the “Maple Leaf Battalion” get proper uniforms and access to weapons.” Thanks, Charlie, but that’s obvious.
He also has an original idea for training this new force.
Charlie’s plan: Have the Canadian Rangers train the citizen volunteer army/battalion! Yes, the proposal would be that the vanguard of Canada’s new patriotic war mobilization plan against what he calls “gangster states” would come from the tepidly trained and equipped Canadian Rangers.
As I have reported here and in other media outlets, the Canadian Rangers, contrary to public opinion, are not actual combat soldiers trained to engage in, let alone train others for, tactical combat military operations.
It seems only pacifist resistance is the route for Charlie Angus’ citizen army, the crack Canadian Ranger-trained Maple Leaf Battalion, as they don uniforms and take up their weapons to, I guess, sort of fight.
Excuse me, but this veteran does not feel safer.
Hopefully this reality check will temper the ideological self-pleasuring martial fantasies pushed by Angus, his followers, and other left-wing proponents. Maybe they might be convinced at some point that prudent and systematic military planning is the way to go if we actually want to “be ready.”
Otherwise, impending military and wartime reality will hit us even harder, and all of this flamboyantly unnecessary militia hype will collapse just as fast and hard as a green soldier’s passion for patriotic glory collapses the moment he encounters his first anti-personnel mine within a concentrated kill zone of enemy machine gun fire infused with chlorine gas.
– Smol is a retired military intelligence officer who served in the Canadian Armed Forces for more than 20 years. He is currently completing a PhD in military history. Reach him at rmsmol@gmail.com
torontosun.com
Former NDP Member of Parliament and leadership hopeful has a far-out plan to defend Canada
Author of the article:Robert Smol
Published Jan 03, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
File photo of Canadian Forces.
File photo of Canadian Forces. Photo by FILE PHOTO /POSTMEDIA NETWORK
In recent weeks, I have been both enthralled and perplexed by the over-the-top, literal call-to-arms from former NDP MP Charlie Angus.
As many of us might recall, Angus was once a serious contender for the NDP leadership. He is now a regular contributor on the popular anti-Trump American YouTube Channel Meidas Touch.
As a result, Angus is gaining popularity among impressionable anti-MAGA youth in the United States, many of whom now believe Canada under Carney is preparing to mobilize militarily against Donald Trump and the United States.
From a military planning perspective, such mobilization might seem reasonable, but given our current state of preparedness, it is not realistic.
Especially now that Charlie Angus wants to encourage Canada to raise a new volunteer militia battalion to help protect this nation.
“In reality,” he states on his Substack, “the government is sending a message to Donald Trump.”
“This is about being prepared” Angus further states on his Meidas Touch broadcast to his American and Canadian followers. “This is about being ready for whatever comes.”
He then goes further stating that his proposal for a militia battalion is “sending a message that Canada is not going to be pushed around.”
Charlie Angus(files)
Charlie Angus(files)
Wow!
I never thought one who served in the endemically anti-military, pacifist NDP caucus for years would become such a jingoistic warmonger. At least that is what card-carrying members of the NDP often labelled me simply for suggesting that Canada meet the basic NATO standard for military preparedness.
And let’s not forget that Charlie Angus’ NDP was the party that, at its convention back in 2021, had a resolution on its agenda to abolish, yes, abolish the Canadian Armed Forces.
It is also common knowledge among military historians that the NDP, until some years ago, wanted Canada to withdraw from NATO. Trump would certainly have admired the NDP for that had they been elected and acted on their anti-NATO stance.
It is also well known that the NDP has consistently opposed nearly every attempt, successful or unsuccessful, to re-equip the armed forces over the past few decades.
But for Angus and his followers, that century of pacifist, anti-military, anti-NATO sentiment among the NDP and the left is now just spent marijuana smoke in the earth’s troposphere.
So here is a summary of the key objectives of what I like to call Mobilization Plan Charlie.
“This will be a volunteer army trained in weapons and the use of drones,” the former musician states in his Substack.
His proposed name for this “army” or “battalion” (he mistakenly uses the two terms interchangeably) would be the Maple Leaf Battalion.
Excuse me for a moment, Charlie, but Canada already has a volunteer army trained, as much as the government might allow, in the use of weapons, including drones. This includes dozens of reserve units.
And may I add that many of those reserve units – such as The Royal Montreal Regiment, the Queen’s Own Rifles, The Toronto Scottish, and the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, to name a few – already have the maple leaf showing prominently in their unit badges.
Angus also suggests the “Maple Leaf Battalion” get proper uniforms and access to weapons.” Thanks, Charlie, but that’s obvious.
He also has an original idea for training this new force.
Charlie’s plan: Have the Canadian Rangers train the citizen volunteer army/battalion! Yes, the proposal would be that the vanguard of Canada’s new patriotic war mobilization plan against what he calls “gangster states” would come from the tepidly trained and equipped Canadian Rangers.
As I have reported here and in other media outlets, the Canadian Rangers, contrary to public opinion, are not actual combat soldiers trained to engage in, let alone train others for, tactical combat military operations.
It seems only pacifist resistance is the route for Charlie Angus’ citizen army, the crack Canadian Ranger-trained Maple Leaf Battalion, as they don uniforms and take up their weapons to, I guess, sort of fight.
Excuse me, but this veteran does not feel safer.
Hopefully this reality check will temper the ideological self-pleasuring martial fantasies pushed by Angus, his followers, and other left-wing proponents. Maybe they might be convinced at some point that prudent and systematic military planning is the way to go if we actually want to “be ready.”
Otherwise, impending military and wartime reality will hit us even harder, and all of this flamboyantly unnecessary militia hype will collapse just as fast and hard as a green soldier’s passion for patriotic glory collapses the moment he encounters his first anti-personnel mine within a concentrated kill zone of enemy machine gun fire infused with chlorine gas.
– Smol is a retired military intelligence officer who served in the Canadian Armed Forces for more than 20 years. He is currently completing a PhD in military history. Reach him at rmsmol@gmail.com
SMOL: Mobilization Plan Charlie calls for creation of volunteer 'Maple Leaf Battalion'
I've recently been both enthralled and perplexed by the over-the-top, literal call-to-arms from former NDP MP Charlie Angus. Read more.
Unhinged.Mobilization Plan Charlie calls for creation of volunteer 'Maple Leaf Battalion'
Former NDP Member of Parliament and leadership hopeful has a far-out plan to defend Canada
Author of the article:Robert Smol
Published Jan 03, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
File photo of Canadian Forces.
File photo of Canadian Forces. Photo by FILE PHOTO /POSTMEDIA NETWORK
In recent weeks, I have been both enthralled and perplexed by the over-the-top, literal call-to-arms from former NDP MP Charlie Angus.
As many of us might recall, Angus was once a serious contender for the NDP leadership. He is now a regular contributor on the popular anti-Trump American YouTube Channel Meidas Touch.
As a result, Angus is gaining popularity among impressionable anti-MAGA youth in the United States, many of whom now believe Canada under Carney is preparing to mobilize militarily against Donald Trump and the United States.
From a military planning perspective, such mobilization might seem reasonable, but given our current state of preparedness, it is not realistic.
Especially now that Charlie Angus wants to encourage Canada to raise a new volunteer militia battalion to help protect this nation.
“In reality,” he states on his Substack, “the government is sending a message to Donald Trump.”
“This is about being prepared” Angus further states on his Meidas Touch broadcast to his American and Canadian followers. “This is about being ready for whatever comes.”
He then goes further stating that his proposal for a militia battalion is “sending a message that Canada is not going to be pushed around.”
Charlie Angus(files)
Charlie Angus(files)
Wow!
I never thought one who served in the endemically anti-military, pacifist NDP caucus for years would become such a jingoistic warmonger. At least that is what card-carrying members of the NDP often labelled me simply for suggesting that Canada meet the basic NATO standard for military preparedness.
And let’s not forget that Charlie Angus’ NDP was the party that, at its convention back in 2021, had a resolution on its agenda to abolish, yes, abolish the Canadian Armed Forces.
It is also common knowledge among military historians that the NDP, until some years ago, wanted Canada to withdraw from NATO. Trump would certainly have admired the NDP for that had they been elected and acted on their anti-NATO stance.
It is also well known that the NDP has consistently opposed nearly every attempt, successful or unsuccessful, to re-equip the armed forces over the past few decades.
But for Angus and his followers, that century of pacifist, anti-military, anti-NATO sentiment among the NDP and the left is now just spent marijuana smoke in the earth’s troposphere.
So here is a summary of the key objectives of what I like to call Mobilization Plan Charlie.
“This will be a volunteer army trained in weapons and the use of drones,” the former musician states in his Substack.
His proposed name for this “army” or “battalion” (he mistakenly uses the two terms interchangeably) would be the Maple Leaf Battalion.
Excuse me for a moment, Charlie, but Canada already has a volunteer army trained, as much as the government might allow, in the use of weapons, including drones. This includes dozens of reserve units.
And may I add that many of those reserve units – such as The Royal Montreal Regiment, the Queen’s Own Rifles, The Toronto Scottish, and the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, to name a few – already have the maple leaf showing prominently in their unit badges.
Angus also suggests the “Maple Leaf Battalion” get proper uniforms and access to weapons.” Thanks, Charlie, but that’s obvious.
He also has an original idea for training this new force.
Charlie’s plan: Have the Canadian Rangers train the citizen volunteer army/battalion! Yes, the proposal would be that the vanguard of Canada’s new patriotic war mobilization plan against what he calls “gangster states” would come from the tepidly trained and equipped Canadian Rangers.
As I have reported here and in other media outlets, the Canadian Rangers, contrary to public opinion, are not actual combat soldiers trained to engage in, let alone train others for, tactical combat military operations.
It seems only pacifist resistance is the route for Charlie Angus’ citizen army, the crack Canadian Ranger-trained Maple Leaf Battalion, as they don uniforms and take up their weapons to, I guess, sort of fight.
Excuse me, but this veteran does not feel safer.
Hopefully this reality check will temper the ideological self-pleasuring martial fantasies pushed by Angus, his followers, and other left-wing proponents. Maybe they might be convinced at some point that prudent and systematic military planning is the way to go if we actually want to “be ready.”
Otherwise, impending military and wartime reality will hit us even harder, and all of this flamboyantly unnecessary militia hype will collapse just as fast and hard as a green soldier’s passion for patriotic glory collapses the moment he encounters his first anti-personnel mine within a concentrated kill zone of enemy machine gun fire infused with chlorine gas.
– Smol is a retired military intelligence officer who served in the Canadian Armed Forces for more than 20 years. He is currently completing a PhD in military history. Reach him at rmsmol@gmail.com
SMOL: Mobilization Plan Charlie calls for creation of volunteer 'Maple Leaf Battalion'
I've recently been both enthralled and perplexed by the over-the-top, literal call-to-arms from former NDP MP Charlie Angus. Read more.