Andrew Abbott

[David Knight Legg @KnightLegg]

Canada’s “51st state” military strategy

What’s worse than being trolled as the 51st state by Americans?

A federal govt that sends a clear message to the world that is exactly what we are.

This week the PM was in Europe and delivered another Ukraine speech no one listened to.

- To our NATO allies; Canada has become that cheap dinner party guest that stands up and gives a long-winded toast to everyone’s health, but never, ever sticks around to help pay the bill. We are a running joke in international security circles for self-righteous speeches followed by… nothing.

- The Russians and Putin smirk when the Canadian PM declares he is “…unequivocal on standing up against Vladimir Putin’s illegal, immoral, unjust violations of the international order” - while his submarines and ships openly traverse our territorial waters with zero fear of Canadian intervention or retaliation.

Canada talks about the international order but won’t pay for it.

We give self-righteous speeches, but make our allies - particularly American taxpayers - pay for our deadbeat status on NATO, NORAD, AUKUS, Five Eyes, naval/Arctic strategy, and energy and mineral security. (While we simultaneously waste $50 billion on bankrupt EV battery plants...)

2. Yesterday, CAF announced new lowered-entry standards for an already deeply understaffed, underequipped and demoralized military.

- We are 16,000 recruits short with morale at 34%. A DEI-obsessed general staff desperately hope that being “inclusive” or ignoring health issues will fill the void of their lack of vision, strategy and command. Won’t work.

- Canada is now a rounding error. We have 67k active troops & 5k in reserve, including cooks and janitors. The USA has 1.29 million active troops and 700k in reserve. Their Special Operations Command is larger than our entire armed forces. That is not proportional.

The world is a more dangerous place, but Canada is acting like it is on a vacation from history that the US has to pay for.

It’s ridiculous to expect Russia or NATO or the USA to respect our sovereignty if we don’t actually care enough to invest in it ourselves.

A wake up call is coming.

Canada needs to re-build the military and intelligence infrastructure, staffing, strategy, equipment and capabilities that will make our enemies and allies respect us once again.

Self-righteous overseas speeches and lower-standard HR inclusivity announcements don’t cut it anymore.

If we don’t want to be called the 51st state, we have to stop acting like it.

#CAF #ukraine #cdnpoli

[Dan Knight @DanKnightMMA]

OTTAWA – Yesterday was Day 2 of the Federal Court hearing, where Justin Trudeau’s government is trying to convince a judge that shutting down Parliament to avoid Well, folks, here we are. Day two of the Federal Court showdown, where the Trudeau government is desperately trying to convince Canadians that shutting down Parliament to protect their own hide was a completely reasonable thing to do. They want you to believe that this is all perfectly normal, that it’s routine, that it’s just a quirk of the system. Nothing to see here, folks!

But the problem with lying is that eventually, you get caught. And on Day 2 of this hearing, Justin Trudeau’s legal team got caught. Over and over again.

If you watched what unfolded in court, you saw the Trudeau government’s lawyers flailing like fish on dry land, fumbling through weak excuses as Chief Justice Paul S. Crampton shredded their arguments one by one. At one point, they actually misrepresented a legal precedent in court, only for the Chief Justice to read the case aloud and reveal that it actually contradicted their argument. Humiliating.

And that was just the start.

This case isn’t just about whether Trudeau technically had the ability to prorogue Parliament. It’s about why he did it—and more importantly, whether Canada is now a country where the Prime Minister can shut down democracy whenever it gets inconvenient for him. Because if the courts let this stand, what’s stopping the next Prime Minister from proroguing indefinitely? What’s stopping the government from suspending Parliament every time there’s a corruption scandal, every time they fear a non-confidence vote, every time they need to cover up a mess of their own making?

And that’s exactly what Trudeau did. His government was facing multiple crises all at once—a massive financial scandal, a looming non-confidence vote, and an economic firestorm caused by Trump’s tariff threats. So rather than actually dealing with it, he shut Parliament down. The question is: Did he have the right to do that?

Trudeau’s Legal Team Has One Argument: “The Court Can’t Stop Us”

The Trudeau government’s lawyers had one job today—convince the court that prorogation is beyond judicial review. That was it. That was their entire strategy. Not that it was necessary. Not that it was ethical. Just that there’s nothing the court can do about it.

They started by arguing that Justin Trudeau isn’t responsible for prorogation at all. No, they said, it was actually the Governor General who did it. That’s right—the Trudeau government is now claiming that the Prime Minister of Canada, the man who publicly announced on January 6 that he had decided to prorogue Parliament, wasn’t actually responsible for proroguing Parliament.

Naturally, Chief Justice Crampton wasn’t buying it. He pointed out that no Governor General in Canadian history has ever refused a Prime Minister’s request for prorogation. That’s right—never. The Governor General is not some independent actor who just wakes up one morning and decides, You know what? Let’s shut Parliament down for a couple of months. That’s not how this works. The Prime Minister advises it, and the Governor General rubber-stamps it.

So why is Trudeau’s government suddenly pretending like he had nothing to do with it? Simple. Because if they can convince the court that this was the Governor General’s decision, then the case gets thrown out.

But that’s just the beginning of the absurdity. Trudeau’s legal team then went on to argue that there are no legal limits on prorogation whatsoever. That’s right—none. According to them, the Prime Minister could prorogue Parliament indefinitely, and there’s not a thing the courts or anyone else could do about it.

The Chief Justice was visibly skeptical, and for good reason. If prorogation has no limits, then Canada is no longer a parliamentary democracy—it’s an elected dictatorship.

At one point, Crampton asked them how Parliament is supposed to hold the government accountable if it’s shut down. The response from Trudeau’s lawyers?

Well, Parliament can hold the government accountable when it returns.

Yes, you read that right. The government’s actual defense is that Parliament can hold them accountable later. Which, of course, is exactly the point. Because what happens if they just prorogue again? And again? And again? The court kept pressing, but the government had no answer.

JCCF @JCCFCanada Lays Out the Real Reason for Prorogation: Trudeau Was Cornered

Now, let’s talk about what Trudeau’s government was really trying to avoid. Because while his lawyers were playing legal word games, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms was laying out the cold, hard truth.

Trudeau shut down Parliament because his government was about to be exposed on multiple fronts.

First, there was the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) scandal. Millions of dollars had mysteriously gone missing from a government-controlled green technology fund, and the Auditor General had uncovered serious financial mismanagement. Parliamentary committees were demanding answers, and Trudeau’s government was stalling. So what did they do? They shut Parliament down.

Then, there was the looming non-confidence vote. Opposition parties had been publicly discussing bringing down Trudeau’s minority government. Conservative MP John Williamson, Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, had even put it in writing. If the vote happened, Trudeau could have lost power. So what did he do? He shut Parliament down.

And let’s not forget the economic mess with the United States. Donald Trump had announced plans for 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods. Trudeau’s government was scrambling to come up with a response, but there was one major problem: any new spending to deal with the crisis would require parliamentary approval. But Parliament wasn’t sitting anymore. Because Trudeau shut it down.

The JCCF laid all of this out in court, showing that Trudeau didn’t prorogue Parliament for the good of Canadians—he did it to protect himself. And the Chief Justice seemed to take their arguments seriously.

What Happens Next?

The Chief Justice has promised to issue a ruling before Parliament resumes on March 24. That means this case will be decided before Trudeau can walk away and pretend none of this ever happened.

If the court rules against the government, it will mean that future Prime Ministers cannot abuse prorogation to avoid scrutiny. It will send a clear message that shutting down Parliament to protect yourself is unconstitutional and illegal.

But if the government wins, it will mean that the Prime Minister can shut down democracy anytime he wants. It will mean that Canada is no longer a functioning parliamentary system but a country where the executive can do whatever it pleases.

And if that happens, ask yourself this: What’s stopping the next Prime Minister from just shutting down Parliament indefinitely?

Trudeau might be stepping down soon, but his legacy of corruption, incompetence, and political cowardice will haunt this country for years. The question now is whether the courts will allow him to rewrite the rules of democracy on his way out the door.

We’ll find out soon.

[Royal Canadian Air Force @RCAF_ARC]

🚨 New Capability🚨

Earlier this month, Hornet Extension Project Phase 2 CF-18s from 3 Wing Bagotville took part in their first operational #NORAD mission with the latest AIM-9X Sidewinder missile.

[General Hillier @GeneralHillier]

Even I think that’s funny

[Pierre Poilievre @PierrePoilievre]

NEWLY-RELEASED MOVIE

WACKOS: the weird, wild, woke & wonderful world of the people running our country.

Chip in here if things have gotten too weird for you: https://t.co/2UGwaDfdoo

[NorthBelle🇨🇦CANADIENNE @NorthBelle4]

@brianlilley

[Martin Pelletier @MPelletierCIO]

HEY CANADA - remember when we were told by Trudeau that there is no business case for LNG. Remember this when the US will be adding $1.3 TRILLION to GDP and half a million new jobs.

[David Staples @DavidStaplesYEG]

Who would you rather have run Alberta's main financial institution?

A) Stephen Harper

B) Executives pushing leftist corporatism DEI and ESG?

UCP and AIMCO were on a collision course with only one ending...

https://t.co/8HA0HmOVvx

[Brian Lilley @brianlilley]

Wise words from @RonaAmbrose on what Canada needs to do in response to Trump’s victory.
The answer isn’t to panic.
The answer is to change policies to make ourselves competitive.

[RCAF Operations @RCAFOperations]

Keeping flight operations running smoothly during Ex #CobraWarrior takes #teamwork. @RCAF_ARC Aircraft Maintenance Technicians from #409Sqn and #435Sqn are dedicated to ensuring our CF-188 Hornets and CC-130HT are mission-ready around the clock. #TechTuesday

[RCAF Operations @RCAFOperations]

Participating in Ex #CobraWarrior @RAFWaddington alongside #NATO allies and partners strengthens the @RCAF_ARC's capability to operate in challenging and complex environments. #StrongerTogether #FighterFriday

[Canadian Joint Operations Command @CJOC_COIC]

Our @RCAF_ARC members, CF-18 Hornets and a CC-130 Hercules have arrived in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 to join #NATO allies and partners in Exercise #CobraWarrior, the @RoyalAirForce’s largest air training exercise. #FriendsPartnersAllies #StrongerTogether

[RCAF Operations @RCAFOperations]

~180 members, 8 CF-18 Hornets and 1 CC-130 Hercules are participating in Ex #CobraWarrior. The @RCAF_ARC is honoured to train with #NATO allies and partners from 🇵🇱 🇫🇮 🇳🇴 🇺🇸 🇬🇧, enhancing tactics in the air. #FriendsPartnersAllies #StrongerTogether

[Canadian Joint Operations Command @CJOC_COIC]

The @RCAF_ARC’s involvement in #ExCobraWarrior provides essential, hands-on training that boosts interoperability with close partners and allies, while also enhancing our operational capabilities in European airspace. 🇨🇦🇬🇧🇵🇱🇺🇸🇫🇮🇳🇴 #StrongerTogether

[Danielle Smith @ABDanielleSmith]

My full statement on Ottawa's illegal bill C59, along with Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean, and Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz:

The federal Liberal and NDP coalition has passed draconian legislation that will irreparably harm Canadian’s ability to hear the truth about the energy industry and Alberta’s successes in reducing global emissions.

Alberta is a global leader in the complex effort to reduce emissions from our energy industry while delivering the resources our nation and the world need to live and thrive. We need a lucid partner in Ottawa that is willing to work with us and not demonize one of Canada’s largest employers and industries.

Bill C-59, when it receives royal assent, will prevent private entities from sharing truthful and evidence-based information that happens to oppose the extreme and untruthful oil and gas narrative of the federal NDP and Liberals. This is being done to intentionally intimidate boards and shareholders, silence debate, and amplify the voices of those who oppose Canada’s world leading energy industry.

Indeed, it would appear to be part of an agenda to create chaos and uncertainty for energy investors for the purpose of phasing out the energy industry altogether. Ironically, this kind of absurd authoritarian censorship will only work to stifle many billions in investments in emissions reducing technologies – the very technologies the world needs to reduce emissions while avoiding energy poverty for billions around the world.

We’re already seeing the NDP-Liberal coalition’s plan play out as organizations like Pathways Alliance and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers are making difficult decisions to remove websites, reduce available information, and cease advertising out of fear that if they do not comply with the narrative of eco-extremists like Minister Stephen Guilbeault and Jagmeet Singh, their companies will face tens of millions in penalties. This is a direct consequence of the new legislation and is not related to the truth and accuracy of our environmental communications.

We have won in court before against this lawless government, and we will win again if needed. Alberta’s government is actively exploring the use of every legal option, including a constitutional challenge or the use of the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act to protect the free speech rights of all Alberta workers, leaders and companies in our world-class energy sector.

We will continue to relentlessly defend our province, its people, their free speech rights and their livelihoods without pause or apology.

[Royal Canadian Air Force @RCAF_ARC]

We are thrilled to welcome the Italian demo team, Frecce Tricolori, to Canada to join us in celebrating #RCAF100!

Want to see the Frecce Tricolori in action? Visit the airshows at Bagotville (22-23 Jun), Trenton (29-30 Jun) or Cold Lake (20-21 Jul)!

[RCAF Operations @RCAFOperations]

The 🇨🇦 NORAD Region is proud to work alongside @ANRALCOM and integrate across domains with our 🇺🇸defence partners contributing to the #NORAD mission to defend North America. #WeHaveTheWatch @RCAF_ARC

[Canadian Joint Operations Command @CJOC_COIC]

From coast to coast to #NATO, #Canada continues to celebrate 75 years of collective defence with Allies. The @CanadianForces' participation in Estonia's Exercise SPRING STORM showcases the strength of Allied solidarity over the years.

[Royal Canadian Air Force @RCAF_ARC]

Get ready to soar through history with our Iconic Aircraft Video Series! 🛩️ Join us as we showcase legendary aircraft that have shaped the RCAF's legacy as part of #RCAF100. Stay tuned for bi-weekly video releases, starting next Thursday! #YourAirForce

[CF-18 Demo Team @CF18Demo]

For 2024, the CF-18 Demo Team is proud to represent Canada and the @RCAF_ARC, with a unique commemorative full colour, fully body, paint job celebrating the RCAF Centennial. https://t.co/7znlH1MChS #RCAF100 #CF18Demo 📽️ 4 Wing Imaging