US subs in the arctic

[syscom3]

Saw this on Drudge report this morning.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/s...477732&k=69493

Since this is the cold country, is this considered another "cold war" incident?

[Nonskimmer]

Well like I've always said, if we're going to lay claim to all of that land (or ice ), we'd best be able to patrol it properly ourselves. Y'think four diesel-electric subs are gonna conduct sovereignty patrols of the Arctic? Ha!

Besides, if they think this is the first time for such an occurrence, they're kidding themselves. It happens a lot more often than they think, and it isn't only the Americans. Wake up, Ottawa!

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I am sure the US Navy does that quite a bit, with no one really being able to stop them.

[Nonskimmer]

Sure they do, along with the British, French, and even the Russians still do it. Hell, it's wide open up there. It's not like Canada really keeps any kind of military presence up there aside from a few Eskimo with hunting rifles.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I saw an intersting documentary on the rangers that patrol up there. Most of them seemed to be eskimos or enuits I think you call them.

[Nonskimmer]

They call themselves Inuit. It's pronounced IN-oo-it.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Ah thank you.

[plan_D]

That's a joke. I'm glad to see it's been brought out in the open. So, what is Canada going to do? I assume it's going to be nothing. Where exactly is all Canada's money going anyway?

I don't see any reports on Canada's lifestyle being far and above any other Western nation - so the money obviously isn't going into the country or people, so where is it going?

If Canada really can't protect it's sea lanes, why does it just use Britain or, ideally, the U.S to do it for them? I know, it may sound bad having to rely on another country for your own protection but it's an alliance. France and Britain had always maintained that France would do the bulk of the ground work while Britain supplied the naval work in any European conflict. In the 1930s it was updated to an equal share in air work and France taking over some of the naval work on the African coast.

[pbfoot]

where Canada's money goes is in the infrastructure we are a very large land mass with a small population for the area and to keep roads airports and the such going year round is pretty costly its probably hard for most people including most Canadians to conceive the distances involved in Europe you guys can throw rocks at the next town where here 50 miles between towns is not rare one place I'm familiar with was 429 miles to the next town but even most Canadians are unaware of this because such a high proportion of us live within 100 miles of our southern friends this coupled with the fact the previous management of the place the UK was very eager to sign very lucrative treaties with the natives that run in perpetuity no taxes free houses you name it they have it

[Nonskimmer]

I don't know about Ontario PB, but in Nova Scotia the provincial Department of Transportation is still responsible for the bulk of the road maintenance. Most of he money comes directly from provincial coffers, with little federal assistance. That's why Nova Scotia's highways are in such relatively rough condition. The feds even expect the provinces to shoulder half of the spending on the 104 federal highway. Granted, Ontario has a lot more highway than Nova Scotia.

Ottawa has cut federal assistance waaaaay back over the last decade and a bit, and has placed much more responsibility on the provinces. Not only with infrastructure but with health care as well. That's why poorer provinces like Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, PEI, and New Brunswick now rely heavily on equalization payments from the wealthier provinces like Alberta, BC, and Ontario. It's not the least bit fair to those provinces to have to shell over their own provincial revenues to a program designed to keep the Atlantic Region on it's feet, but that's what we're left with for the time being.

Much federal money gets spent on ridiculous corporate initiatives that go nowhere, national unity strategies designed to keep Québec in the country (that again appear to be going nowhere. Sponsorship anyone?), and foreign aid packages. To be realistic though, it's been that way for decades, long before Mr. Chrétien took the reigns of government in the 90's. There is no reason in the world why Canada can't afford a decent military capable of defending our frontiers and fulfilling our international obligations. No reason whatsoever.

[102first_hussars]

I don't know about Ontario PB, but in Nova Scotia the provincial Department of Transportation is still responsible for the bulk of the road maintenance. Most of he money comes directly from provincial coffers, with little federal assistance. That's why Nova Scotia's highways are in such relatively rough condition. The feds even expect the provinces to shoulder half of the spending on the 104 federal highway. Granted, Ontario has a lot more highway than Nova Scotia.

What you guys need are Toll-booths, people in this country think they are soo Communist but if you have been on the Highways in North Dakota they couldnt be more perfect.

[Nonskimmer]

We do have one toll highway here, but only one. Boy, you shoulda heard the bitching and complaining when that opened up.

[102first_hussars]

I beleive it, god forbid everyone should chip in fifty cents for a highway that wont kill soo many people.

I have finally found something to Envy of North Dakota.


A PLACE THAT IS RENOWNED, REVERED, AND IS THE ENVY OF THE WORLD FOR ITS TECHNOLOGICALY SUPERIOR HIGHWAY SYSTEMS

IITTSS! NOOORRRTH DAKOTAAAAA!!!

[Nonskimmer]

I think most of the states have toll highways. The interstate highways, anyway. It shows too, because they appear to be really well kept.

[102first_hussars]

Most of the Western States the Border with Canada have nice highways, but if you were to go through Michigan Wisconson or Illinois there just as bad as ours and they drive like the crazy bastards in Ontario too.