🇨🇦 Policy Hawk
@cdnpolicyhawk.bsky.social
Strategic communications professional and former policy analyst. Planting trees whose shade I may never know. I comment on CAF, economics, politics.
Grounding the Snowbirds until new aircraft arrive is a good decision. But the replacement really should be a jet. I'm reflecting on why over on my Substack: open.substack.com/pub/policyha...
Snowbirds, Baseball Cards, Islands, and Churches — What Makes a Great Airshow Plane
Why the Snowbird replacement ought to be a jet aircraft...
open.substack.com
Are nuclear submarines the best submarines? Canada is just weeks away from selecting its next submarine and isn't even considering the nuclear option. Why not? I'm diving into that, and more, in my latest piece over on Substack. policyhawk.substack.com/p/why-the-nu...
Why the Nuclear Option Isn’t on Canada’s Submarine Shopping List
With Canada's submarine selection approaching, it's worth answering why none of the options are nuclear...
policyhawk.substack.com
Are nuclear submarines the best submarines? Canada is just weeks away from selecting its next submarine and isn't even considering the nuclear option. Why not? I'm diving into that, and more, in my latest piece over on Substack. policyhawk.substack.com/p/why-the-nu...
Why the Nuclear Option Isn’t on Canada’s Submarine Shopping List
With Canada's submarine selection approaching, it's worth answering why none of the options are nuclear...
policyhawk.substack.com
I've just posted my first written material over on Substack! It's a piece taking a deep dive on one specific argument often raised but rarely elaborated on: Personnel. I hope you'll take a few minutes to read it! open.substack.com/pub/policyha...
This thread, over on twitter, got 450 likes. Here, it got 3. Use of that place is a moral hazard, and I'd love to make an alternative my default space online. But they deliver the things that make me want to be here.
🇨🇦 Policy Hawk@cdnpolicyhawk.bsky.social · last yr.Canada’s renewed focus on Arctic security has led to lots of comparisons with Russia’s Arctic posture - usually to Canada’s disadvantage. But these comparisons tend to ignore some key realities. I want to break some of that down. 🧵
Canada’s renewed focus on Arctic security has led to lots of comparisons with Russia’s Arctic posture - usually to Canada’s disadvantage. But these comparisons tend to ignore some key realities. I want to break some of that down. 🧵
"Canada reconsidering F-35 purchase amid tensions with Washington, says [MND Blair]" Canada questioning its US military purchases isn't surprising, but being this forthright about it is. At least, it is if you expected Trudeau's style to last the day. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Canada reconsidering F-35 purchase amid tensions with Washington, says minister | CBC News
Canada is looking at cancelling a major portion of its purchase of U.S.-built F-35 stealth fighters and plans on opening talks with rival aircraft makers, Defence Minister Bill Blair said.
cbc.ca
"Portugal rules out purchasing F-35 fighter jets and evaluates European alternatives" While I don't believe they had a formal order in place, last year their Air Force Chief said they'd already started transitioning to F-35. This is a real lost sale. www.aereo.jor.br/2025/03/13/p...
Portugal descarta compra de caças F-35 e avalia alternativas europeias - Poder Aéreo – Aviação, Forças Aéreas, Indústria Aeroespacial e de Defesa
O ministro da Defesa Nacional de Portugal, Nuno Melo, anunciou que o país não irá adquirir os caças F-35 aos Estados Unidos, considerando o atual contexto geopolítico e a imprevisibilidade da política...
aereo.jor.br
Canadians can be cynical and dismissive of our military. This media availability with the CO of HMCS Corner Brook is a good reminder that members of the CAF are not. They are professionals with an understanding of their role and the capacity to do it. youtu.be/BQaAD1zNcUc?...
youtu.be
The French nuclear submarine FS Tourville photographed in Halifax Harbour today. This is nearly a brand new boat, just commissioned in November, and this visit is the first by a Suffren class to Halifax.
WarshipCam@warshipcam.bsky.social · last yr.French Navy Suffren-class nuclear attack submarine FS Tourville (S637) coming into Halifax, Nova Scotia - March 10, 2025 #fstourville #s637 SRC: FB- Halifax Harbour Photos
"South Korea wants to sell submarines to Canada" Not much new information, except that the SK delegation visited this month. But there have been rumours that we'll get a submarine announcement before there's an election call, so this visit may be telling. ottawacitizen.com/news/nationa...
South Korea wants to sell submarines to Canada as relations sour with U.S.
South Korea sent a delegation to Canada to pitch itself as a reliable procurement partner for the Department of National Defence.
ottawacitizen.com
"Canadian government orders icebreaker from Helsinki Shipyard" Not seeing Canadian media/press releases on this, but Finnish media is reporting a deal for an icebreaker with initial construction in Finland and final construction in Canada. yle.fi/a/74-20148343
Sigh. America's traditional allies would probably want to join an effort to achieve these goals, if only they did it slightly less dumb and skipped the threats.
Exclusive: US to levy fees on ships linked to China, push allies to do similar – draft executive order
The United States is planning to charge fees for docking at U.S. ports on any ship that is part of a fleet that includes Chinese-built or Chinese-flagged vessels and will push allies to do similar or face retaliation, according to a draft executive order dated February 27 and seen by Reuters on Thursday.
reuters.com
"It may provoke Trump, but Canada should cancel the purchase of F-35 fighter jets from the U.S." Point blank, no we shouldn't. This would escalate our dispute into an arena Trump has not publicly taken it, and where we do not have leverage or power. Buying something else too, otoh...
Opinion: It may provoke Trump, but Canada should cancel the purchase of F-35 fighter jets from the U.S.
The problem is that Canada will never have full control over the heavily computerized planes
theglobeandmail.com
It's amazing to me that this type of response wasn't universal from the first day of DOGE. How is it that so few leaders, or even workers, in America have even this modest amount of spinal fortitude?
Jesse Eisinger@jeisinger.bsky.social · last yr.Some "Russian Warship" vibes here from a tiny fed'l agency. via Brett Murphy: The African Development Foundation (budget ~$40 million) is putting up a fight and denying DOGE + Pete Marocco — the State Dept official dismantling USAID — access to their building:
"'Canada wants the tariffs removed,' Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc says as U.S. officials talk compromise" Honestly, I think that *just* removing tariffs is already the compromise position from Canada's Point of View. What we *want* is some kind of assurance that this won't be repeated.
Trudeau and Trump speak for first time since launch of the trade war | CBC News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrapped up a call with his U.S. counterpart midday Wednesday, a senior government official told CBC News.
cbc.ca
I wonder if there's a way we can recognize (read: encourage) actions that help secure Canadian sovereignty through our Honours system. I'm thinking in terms of economically substantive things - but that initial thought might be too narrow.
If you're wondering about the vibe in Canada right now, I just got served this ad for a brewhouse that is just a portrait of the White House being burned down. No text, just a bigass picture of the White House burning and a link directly to their menu lolol
I'm much more bearish on the future of the Churchill port than many... but I'd happily be proven wrong! This is a positive development in that direction. Though, I notice that the article seems to say part of the intent is to store minerals at the port that will be transported out by train.
Port of Churchill to double its critical mineral shipment capacity this year | CBC News
Manitoba’s northern port will ship double the amount of critical minerals it shipped last year, its ownership says.
cbc.ca
A reminder that, prior to today, that only 0.6% of American manufactured goods exported to Canada were tariffed at all.
I tuned into Trump's speech because I saw some posts saying the Democrats were shouting him down. But all I've seen from them, so far is silence and lame signs. Did the three Democrats with any fight get kicked out, or something? @aoc.bsky.social, where is your party?
Microcosm of how trade wars can't be undone: I'm renovating my living room. We're using the same colour paint we used elsewhere in the house, which is a Behr (Home Depot) colour. Just found the matching colour in a Product of Canada paint from a Canadian store for less. Never going back.
As awful, incomprehensible, and unjust as Trump's trade war with Canada is (and it is): Let's remember that Trump's attacks on Ukraine and global public health is also awful and incomprehensible. We're still among the world's most privileged people with a duty to help redress those injustices too.
a red white and blue canadian flag with a maple leaf
ALT: a red white and blue canadian flag with a maple leaf
media.tenor.com
Hell, yes. I've been talking about this option for a while, and I'm glad it's the first option the Province reached for. Extremely difficult to substitute for, places the cost on the US, and adds significant cost to industries in the US which they're trying to steal from Canada (ie. Aluminum).
Ontario to Slap Export Tax on Electricity to U.S.
Ontario will slap a 25% export tax on electricity it sends to 1.5 million homes in Minnesota, Michigan and New York in retaliation for U.S. tariffs, said Doug Ford, leader of the Canadian province. Fo...
wsj.com
This is pretty good. Given the setting, I wish it was less focused on framing what he's done as PM (in contrast to the "other guys"). And I have no idea what "lying with statistics" is being done to claim we've tripled defence spending (2x is supportable.. but still misleading). Still pretty good.
Olga Nesterova@onestpress.onestnetwork.com · last yr.MUST WATCH: It's not just about Ukraine. It's about the rules and the VALUES and the principles of sovereignty, of independence, of territorial integrity that protects EVERY country in the world. youtu.be/fB2oQLYTRDc?...
At least some Canadian defence discussion, policy & planning should be focused on how Canada protects its citizens and sovereignty in the event of a dissolution (and possible civil war) in the United States.
Ron Stonebear Shields@stonebear4747.bsky.social · last yr.
This palace statement is an abdication of the King's duties and responsibilities to Canada. The King not commenting, absent a request from the PM, is good and proper. But stating that Canada's Head of State will not comment on this matter at all neuters one of Canada's tools of statecraft.
Charlie Angus@charlieangus104.bsky.social · last yr.I got my politics from my Scottish granny. She wouldn't be surprised for a second that "King" Charles would throw us under the bus to placate Trump. I have enormous respect for our Governor-General. As for the tawdry family living in Buckingham Palace? Canada will defend our own interests.
