Very timely piece. And Canadians should take note. We need to shore up our own northern and other defences… with some ‘steely determination’ of our own. The world is changing.
Excellent piece Paul! And, timely as was said above. In an earlier time in my career I was involved in arctic shipping and Finland was the global leader in ice breaking research and development. Amazing those Finns!! I’m so pleased you are able and willing to do things like this trip!!
read about other perspectives from allied countries about how their governments, decision-makers, and citizens, are taking existential threats seriously. Thanks Paul. Always instructive.
Now get past your jet lag, and get ready to comment on productivity, growth, innovation, science, and all those topics stuck in our Canadian quagmire…or… let’s have some of your music thoughts!
Thanks, Paul. I often feel that we're too far back from the front lines, not just physically but psychologically. Even the first Trump administration wasn't enough to shake our complacency.
I'm so impressed with how quickly Finland foresaw and is mobilizing against Russian aggression. They know Russia way better than we do, and have zero illusions. Also Europe (or at least Macron) finally recognizing they can no longer rely on the US to shore them up. The world is changing rapidly and Canada needs.to pivot fast from a peacetime, insular mindset to an international world-view. It's not a bad dream, this is happening.
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland all have mandatory military service. Several years ago I suggested that we should have mandatory service to give young people here a sense of citizenship and duty as several commenters have noted below. But my suggestions either fell on deaf ears or were ridiculed. Canadians tend to be too smug for their own good, and are rather ignorant of Russia's ongoing claims in the Arctic circle, claims that directly affect us.
Great article Paul. To bad Canada takes such a lackadaisical way to war sending Billions of dollars to help other countries when we can NOT expand our military readiness...this should be a top priority in Canada!
I was 9 yrs old when my family escaped Communist Hungary in 1956. The lesson my parents taught me as long as they were alive is …the only thing Russians understand is strength!
Paul, great piece. Canadians and our government seem to be enjoying a long break from history with little thought to security matters or war preparation/prevention. Learning more about our new (and existing) allies and their thoughts and preparations is instructive.
Very timely piece. And Canadians should take note. We need to shore up our own northern and other defences… with some ‘steely determination’ of our own. The world is changing.
Excellent piece Paul! And, timely as was said above. In an earlier time in my career I was involved in arctic shipping and Finland was the global leader in ice breaking research and development. Amazing those Finns!! I’m so pleased you are able and willing to do things like this trip!!
Great article Paul. We could learn much from the Finns.
Helpful to
read about other perspectives from allied countries about how their governments, decision-makers, and citizens, are taking existential threats seriously. Thanks Paul. Always instructive.
Now get past your jet lag, and get ready to comment on productivity, growth, innovation, science, and all those topics stuck in our Canadian quagmire…or… let’s have some of your music thoughts!
Excellent article; great to get the perspective of the Finns, living right next to the bear, as do we. This subscriber considers his funds well spent!
Thanks, Paul. I often feel that we're too far back from the front lines, not just physically but psychologically. Even the first Trump administration wasn't enough to shake our complacency.
Thank You Paul
This was a great article!
Thank you for this.
I'm so impressed with how quickly Finland foresaw and is mobilizing against Russian aggression. They know Russia way better than we do, and have zero illusions. Also Europe (or at least Macron) finally recognizing they can no longer rely on the US to shore them up. The world is changing rapidly and Canada needs.to pivot fast from a peacetime, insular mindset to an international world-view. It's not a bad dream, this is happening.
As always, Sir, very well done.
I do like your Canadian political commentary and I also like your non-Canadian commentary. And, I like ....
So glad I have a subscription.
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland all have mandatory military service. Several years ago I suggested that we should have mandatory service to give young people here a sense of citizenship and duty as several commenters have noted below. But my suggestions either fell on deaf ears or were ridiculed. Canadians tend to be too smug for their own good, and are rather ignorant of Russia's ongoing claims in the Arctic circle, claims that directly affect us.
Great article Paul. To bad Canada takes such a lackadaisical way to war sending Billions of dollars to help other countries when we can NOT expand our military readiness...this should be a top priority in Canada!
I was 9 yrs old when my family escaped Communist Hungary in 1956. The lesson my parents taught me as long as they were alive is …the only thing Russians understand is strength!
Paul, great piece. Canadians and our government seem to be enjoying a long break from history with little thought to security matters or war preparation/prevention. Learning more about our new (and existing) allies and their thoughts and preparations is instructive.
And the people of Finland are the happiest on the planet….
NATO has encircled the Baltic and, with it, Russia’s Baltic fleet.