Western Standard - June 06, 2022


Street hockey culture and the sad truth of Canada's global decline

Topics
Canada's technological lag Euro Satori show
Mentioned
Pierre Trudeau Euro Satori Morneau Dave Poseidon Aurora Jolie Putin
Regina school kids getting lesson in transgenderism — without parents' consent 'If Trudeau hates guns so much, he should make his bodyguards use karate'

Episode Stats


Length

16 minutes

Words per minute

153.32

Word count

2,456

Sentence count

218

Harmful content

Misogyny

2

sentences flagged

Toxicity

2

sentences flagged

Hate speech

5

sentences flagged


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

In this episode, I discuss China's aggressive attitude towards Canadian military aircraft flying over the South China Sea, the lack of support from the Trudeau government, and why Canada has become the odd man out on the world's diplomatic and military stage.

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Misogyny classifications generated with MilaNLProc/bert-base-uncased-ear-misogyny .
Toxicity classifications generated with s-nlp/roberta_toxicity_classifier .
Hate speech classifications generated with facebook/roberta-hate-speech-dynabench-r4-target .
Topics generated with Qwen2.5-3B-Instruct.
Hosts, guests, and mentioned names generated with spaCy (en_core_web_sm), reconciled against Wikidata.
00:00:00.000 Part of this operation, this United Nations operation, I believe it's called NEON, Operation NEON, which involves monitoring North Korea for sanctions violations.
00:00:15.480 And we've sent an Aurora, one of our big Auroras over there, with a rotating crew to take part in this operation.
00:00:25.140 And it's the only thing really that we're doing as part of that.
00:00:28.440 And basically, we're on the turf of this, you know, in that area of the South China Sea.
00:00:38.000 And China is apparently not really happy about that, about this whole operation.
00:00:43.220 And they've been buzzing our pilots, this aircraft, I should say.
00:00:48.260 Oh, by the way, this is Bert, my cat.
00:00:51.940 He's helping me out here, but he's going to take a better position here.
00:00:57.760 Anyway, he's obviously not impressed with my discussion.
00:01:02.580 But anyway, yeah, so they're buzzing us.
00:01:07.520 They're giving us the finger, not treating us with any respect.
00:01:11.440 It's terrible.
00:01:12.900 I mean, it's just, I mean, we've got this big, lumbering, old, 30-plus-year-old.
00:01:19.800 I mean, these things came in, came in when Trudeau, Pierre Trudeau was still around.
00:01:25.360 And the, you know, back in the 80s, for God's sake, we should have replaced them.
00:01:31.020 But instead, we upgraded them, kept them.
00:01:34.040 And so anyway, we got this one aircraft there.
00:01:36.480 And the Chinese, apparently, according to one media report, which probably a lot of people saw,
00:01:43.080 was that they're coming as close as 10 feet away from our aircraft, between 10 and 100 feet.
00:01:50.940 And this has happened dozens of times since Christmas.
00:01:55.420 But the only reason the Canadian government and Trudeau have said anything is because it was reported.
00:02:03.160 We've been tolerating it all along since Christmas.
00:02:07.360 I can't remember.
00:02:08.060 It's something, dozens of interceptions, and some of them dangerous.
00:02:13.700 And, of course, the Trudeau government say this is, you know, very concerning, and so on.
00:02:20.860 And we've sent messages of disapproval to the Chinese, and they haven't even responded. 1.00
00:02:28.520 You know, diplomatic messages of concern, like, you know. 0.57
00:02:34.680 But, I mean, they obviously don't give a damn, and they know they can get away with it,
00:02:38.940 and we're not going to do anything because, you know, our prime minister basically has no backbone. 0.51
00:02:44.040 You know, we're not going to really do anything.
00:02:47.460 And to be honest, I don't even know why we're there.
00:02:50.320 It's a token effort.
00:02:52.200 I mean, that aircraft should be guarding the Arctic and our shores.
00:02:56.860 Why are we even there?
00:02:59.860 I mean, they don't even want us there, which was part of the argument I was making in the article
00:03:05.980 was that we've sort of become the odd man out when it comes to Asia-Pacific treaties.
00:03:14.260 Not treaties, sorry, deals and agreements.
00:03:18.800 We've been left out.
00:03:20.660 And it's, you know, we've lost a lot of luster cachet on the international scene.
00:03:30.400 Well, that's it.
00:03:31.460 I mean, you know, on the whole international, not just the Asia-Pacific area.
00:03:35.500 And this is something we've seen for a while.
00:03:37.220 I mean, Canada used to sort of punch above its weight diplomatically and militarily.
00:03:41.900 I mean, we were respected peacekeepers.
00:03:44.060 Of course, we certainly put our part in during the big wars and, you know, did a lot of peacekeeping
00:03:50.120 and had some strong diplomatic presence on the world stage.
00:03:52.900 But unfortunately, again, I lay a lot of it.
00:03:55.660 I mean, this has gone on for a long time.
00:03:56.960 Some of these planes, I mean, there's past governments that could have upgraded or replaced these as well.
00:04:00.640 But when it comes to respect on the world stage, I mean, you always see those pictures of any world gatherings.
00:04:05.700 Aside from the selfies and showing off the socks, when you see the serious leaders clustered and talking about things,
00:04:10.780 Trudeau is literally always on the outside looking in.
00:04:12.900 They don't have any time for him.
00:04:13.920 No, no, I think they kind of sense he's, to put it nicely, a lightweight.
00:04:22.380 He's kind of a lightweight.
00:04:23.340 And they realize that this guy is just, you know, you know, he's not quite all there.
00:04:32.840 And they left us out of AUKUS, which is the Australia, UK, United States submarine deal,
00:04:42.720 which is a huge, huge deal, multi-billion dollar deal.
00:04:47.200 It totally took Ottawa by surprise.
00:04:49.860 Ottawa had no idea that this was happening, and they were clearly embarrassed by it, and they played it down.
00:04:56.760 And then just a few months later, we got left out of another AUKUS deal.
00:05:02.280 That's AUKAS. 0.97
00:05:04.100 It's kind of an odd named grouping.
00:05:06.840 But again, the same group has signed a deal to create the latest in hypersonic missiles.
00:05:13.720 And that technology is very valuable.
00:05:16.880 And again, we were left out of that.
00:05:19.740 And then strike three, the Quad Summit in Tokyo, which included Australia, the United States, Japan, and India.
00:05:33.220 And India, for God's sake, has not even joined us in condemning what Russia is doing in Ukraine.
00:05:42.420 We need them.
00:05:44.780 I mean, obviously, that grouping needs India. 0.92
00:05:46.820 India is a huge, a foremost economy, and it's growing quickly.
00:05:52.620 And they're adding a lot of military equipment, and they're a valuable customer for the United States.
00:05:59.800 But again, one, two, three.
00:06:01.900 And as the old surveillance intelligence axiom goes, once you can excuse, twice is a coincidence.
00:06:15.680 Three times is not coincidence.
00:06:17.840 We are definitely being left out.
00:06:20.080 We are the odd man out.
00:06:21.860 They don't trust us.
00:06:23.860 They don't trust us.
00:06:25.500 And why would they?
00:06:27.180 And it's unfortunate.
00:06:28.060 I mean, that kind of crosses over to the economic as well.
00:06:30.520 I mean, as you said, India is really an emerging power in the world in a number of levels and an economic powerhouse.
00:06:36.640 I mean, we really want to do some trade with those guys.
00:06:39.060 I mean, it's a fantastic market, you know, bilaterally.
00:06:42.300 But I mean, nobody can forget Trudeau's disastrous Indian trip.
00:06:45.320 I mean, he embarrassed our nation over there.
00:06:47.260 And, you know, Moody didn't even greet him at the airport when he would greet even typically a junior minister if they showed up.
00:06:54.120 He was always a very welcoming host.
00:06:56.040 And that's distressing.
00:06:57.540 I mean, that's personal.
00:06:59.120 And we should be paying attention to this.
00:07:01.200 Yeah, for some reason, I mean, Trudeau, just this, you know, that whole Ottawa trip was just an absolute disaster.
00:07:11.300 And maybe that reverberated around diplomatic circles.
00:07:18.340 And it probably hurt us.
00:07:21.020 And, again, you know, our reputation invoking the emergency measures when it wasn't necessary hurt our reputation abroad.
00:07:31.300 And I think it's a cumulative thing.
00:07:34.480 It's a cumulative thing.
00:07:36.560 And I just have to laugh when I see the foreign affairs minister, Jolie, I think her name is, saying, oh, we're very concerned about this and we're going to say something.
00:07:48.620 Well, I mean, come on.
00:07:50.360 You know, they're buzzing us.
00:07:51.540 They're treating us with no respect.
00:07:53.160 They're giving us the finger, for God's sake.
00:07:56.620 And putting other pilots in.
00:07:58.160 We don't have any F-13s to defend our boys.
00:08:00.860 It's too far away.
00:08:02.140 It's too far away.
00:08:03.120 We don't, you know, we can't, you know.
00:08:04.460 So those guys are just going to have to sit there and take it, right?
00:08:08.300 Yeah, and it's got to be humiliating for the military, I mean, for the members serving.
00:08:12.040 And they've got a tough job as it is.
00:08:13.220 And as I said, it's dangerous.
00:08:14.200 I mean, I am no expert.
00:08:15.340 When you get planes within 10 feet of each other, though, no matter how skilled both pilots may be, I mean, a terrible accident could happen.
00:08:22.380 And, you know, this shouldn't be taken lightly.
00:08:25.900 But, I mean, I can envision, you know, with Canada, we're not a militarized country and we don't have a large force and that's fine.
00:08:32.300 But you would think in that sort of situation that you'd want a smaller but high-tech and up-to-date specialized force then.
00:08:38.320 I mean, what we have is a small force that's all trying to work with antiques.
00:08:41.800 I mean, their sidearms are World War II era, for crying out loud, and the government can't even figure out how to replace those.
00:08:47.960 Well, and that's a very good point.
00:08:49.500 Like, all our military equipment is old and outdated.
00:08:52.620 Our destroyers, for example, can't go into ice-filled waters. 0.57
00:08:58.060 They can't.
00:08:58.620 Their hulls can't handle it. 0.87
00:09:01.640 You know, and our auroras are old.
00:09:04.200 And, yes, the government has put in $252 million towards Arctic and NORAD, you know, security.
00:09:13.860 But that's a drop in the bucket.
00:09:15.900 That's nothing.
00:09:16.900 And we are so far behind on that.
00:09:18.940 We simply cannot defend our north.
00:09:21.980 I mean, even the Rangers are not trained.
00:09:24.080 I found out that the Rangers are not trained in tactical, you know, training.
00:09:32.040 I was so shocked to find that out.
00:09:33.820 I mean, our troops, our troops, our armed forces are world class.
00:09:39.860 Our pilots are world class.
00:09:41.360 We stack up against the best in the world, absolutely, no question.
00:09:48.020 And yet we're not supporting them.
00:09:50.500 And it's always been like that, and especially the liberals.
00:09:53.820 The liberals have always been just they hate to give any money to the military.
00:09:58.540 And we need these new aircraft to replace, you know, the auroras, the Poseidon, which is basically a 737 converted into a, you know, a long range marine maritime surveillance aircraft, which with multiple capabilities.
00:10:22.080 And only now have we, only now, April 1 was the deadline for information to submit against, you know, in the competition.
00:10:32.820 But the Poseidon pretty much will probably be the one we choose because there's hundreds of offsets, hundreds of industrial offsets, which our economy needs.
00:10:45.540 And also getting back to the Quad summit and also AUKUS, those countries, Australia, UK, all these countries have set up all these high-tech sectors for technology, which will benefit all those countries.
00:11:06.700 India, India, Japan, it'll benefit all of them, high-tech sectors, and we are being left out of it, which is just terrible.
00:11:15.640 And on the heels, on the heels of Mr. Morneau's comments yesterday about how Canada is losing its competition, you know, we're not, we're not, we're, you know, technologically in our, you know, economical competition.
00:11:30.480 We're falling by the wayside, and this is a, and I think he's right, I think he's totally right, and I never liked Morneau, I never did.
00:11:40.780 But on this one, I think he's right, and we are falling behind, and we have a lot to catch up on.
00:11:47.500 We haven't even signed the F-35 deal.
00:11:50.520 That deal is going to be signed in, we're still negotiating that for 88 jets, supposed to be signed in the fall.
00:12:00.480 We still haven't, and there are, like, 14 countries that are already ordered it and flying it.
00:12:08.260 We are the last, the last, you know, we're the laggard.
00:12:13.560 We're always the laggard, and I just don't understand why, why we don't think that's important.
00:12:19.040 Do we always just depend on the Americans, the American defensive umbrella?
00:12:24.060 Don't we, I mean, are we not, you know, it just doesn't make any sense.
00:12:27.760 No, and it's frustrating, you know, especially with a country as large as ours and with as much border to have to deal with,
00:12:33.800 and, you know, the potential insecurity we have in a lot of ways.
00:12:37.740 As I said, even if we could have enough out there that we command respect, it translates to more than military.
00:12:42.640 I mean, when you have these foreign summits, trade deals can be arranged or other bilateral actions.
00:12:48.180 But when your prime minister is shut out by every serious leader in the country, in the world, you just can't make those bigger deals.
00:12:55.040 It costs us on a lot more levels than just militarily, and people don't realize that.
00:12:58.940 It's a major setback.
00:13:00.420 These are major setbacks.
00:13:02.180 And we should have jumped into the F-35 sooner.
00:13:05.600 I mean, there's the whole question of interoperability with our allies is super important.
00:13:16.920 I mean, all you've got to do is look at what's happening in Ukraine.
00:13:19.640 Is Putin going to turn his eyes on the Arctic?
00:13:22.840 What's he going to do next?
00:13:24.740 You know, we've got to jump on it before it gets out of hand.
00:13:29.000 And like I say, the $252 million is just a drop in the bucket.
00:13:36.300 That's nothing.
00:13:37.100 That's absolutely nothing.
00:13:38.340 It's just, but it's what our government's, what the liberal government is ready to do.
00:13:43.840 That's it.
00:13:45.320 See what happens, I guess.
00:13:46.700 Speaking of international trade, though, before I let you go.
00:13:48.900 So I hear you're going to be making quite a trip to a pretty unique show in Paris pretty soon.
00:13:54.400 Yes, yes.
00:13:55.160 I'm going to a show called Euro Satori, and it's the biggest arm show in the world.
00:14:01.340 And they haven't had one for two years because of COVID, but they're relaunching it this year.
00:14:07.780 And I'm really looking forward to it.
00:14:09.540 Everybody except the Russians will be there. 1.00
00:14:12.760 I understand a few companies from China will also be there, but not very many.
00:14:17.740 And it's because of COVID, this COVID situation in China.
00:14:21.120 It's nothing to do with Ukraine.
00:14:23.020 But the Russians will not be allowed. 1.00
00:14:25.620 But everybody else will be.
00:14:27.740 And it is a massive, massive show with all the latest weaponry, drones, helicopters, tanks, you name it.
00:14:40.180 It's going to be there.
00:14:41.660 And I'm really excited to see this.
00:14:43.280 And I hope to maybe we can do a segment from Paris for your show.
00:14:49.960 Hopefully we can tell the listeners here what Euro Satori is about and some of the cool things that are happening in that world of, you know, the military industrial world.
00:15:06.620 Yeah, I'm hoping we can set something up.
00:15:09.560 It sounds like it'll be very interesting for sure.
00:15:11.700 I mean, if not, I'm going to try and get you while you're there.
00:15:14.120 And if not, we'll talk when you get back.
00:15:16.040 But it's good to know there will be at least one responsible Canadian presence at the show if nobody else.
00:15:20.520 I'll be there.
00:15:22.060 I'll hold the fort.
00:15:23.760 Right on.
00:15:25.520 Okay.
00:15:26.040 Well, thanks for checking in.
00:15:27.480 And, you know, thanks for keeping us up to date on these things with those columns, Dave.
00:15:32.120 And I hope we didn't distress you, Pat, too much this time around.
00:15:36.520 Okay.
00:15:37.060 And one more thing.
00:15:38.220 One more thing.
00:15:39.300 Go see Top Gun.
00:15:40.740 It's fabulous.
00:15:42.360 It's a new one.
00:15:43.100 It's fabulous.
00:15:44.120 I've never seen anything like it.
00:15:45.580 Go see it.
00:15:46.220 And go see it on the IMAX.
00:15:48.200 It's fabulous.
00:15:50.000 Okay.
00:15:50.540 Well, I'll keep that one.
00:15:51.640 I've got to admit, I'm usually pretty leery of sequels, especially that far after.
00:15:55.000 But sometimes they can do a good one.
00:15:56.420 So I appreciate the heads up on it.
00:15:58.120 Okay.
00:15:58.960 Right on.
00:15:59.460 Good to talk to Dave.
00:16:00.440 Okay.
00:16:00.820 Take care.