WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:32.359 Thank you for listening to Depiction's Media Radio. Welcome to Policy Rights to show 2 00:00:32.560 --> 00:01:03.320 about government policy and human rights. Welcome back to Policying Rights. Here in 3 00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:08.560 Depictions Media Radio, I'm your host, Michael Clogs this UH. Next episode, 4 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:17.599 we're going to hear from Anita Ann with UM as she joins NATO, 5 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:25.480 and she's talking to the NATO leaders and membership about how Canada is helping so 6 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:34.599 much with NATO, how they're supplying ships and equipment to to the NATO UM 7 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:48.719 causes and helping Ukraine and expressing how important UM the emission of NATO is and 8 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:57.920 how UM Canada will continue to keep supplying arms for all of the causes and 9 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:13.439 missions that NATO puts forth see UM and that the there is this Secretary Defense 10 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:22.439 from UM the United Kingdom, and he will chime in on issues around UH 11 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:29.520 different NATO missions and of course what is happening in Ukraine and what the ultimate 12 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:38.080 thing is. One of the things that I remember about NATO UM when I 13 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:46.120 was a child, and of course the UM it was the Soviet Union versus 14 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:52.479 the United States mainly then. And it's kind of interesting that it is still 15 00:02:53.039 --> 00:03:00.719 NATO working working with with things that would seemingly go against what it is the 16 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:08.199 Russian Federation might want, and it seems that in order for NATO to exist, 17 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:20.000 that this particular enemy has to keep being there at some point. Shouldn't 18 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:25.360 these type of organizations in order to form a better defense, They should form 19 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:39.800 better negotiation skills, not necessarily better weapons, so yes, equipment and things 20 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:49.960 to remove things of the past, such as in this particular case, minds 21 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:54.159 that are in the ocean in our seas. Having ships built to remove them, 22 00:03:54.479 --> 00:04:02.680 to remove them safely so that ships can travel on peaceful missions safely without 23 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:10.840 having to run into an explosive mind is actually a good thing, something that 24 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:20.120 we all should support. But maybe we need to stop supporting things that would 25 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:30.560 cause more wars, like building of ships that have large guns that just simply 26 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:39.040 or there to destroy an enemy anyway, just some thoughts. There are ongoing 27 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:46.720 issues with Ukraine because of the ongoing war, and it is good to have 28 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:56.079 NATO in that respect helping Ukraine, even if they aren't helping them completely, 29 00:04:56.120 --> 00:05:02.120 just as NATO and is more of each individ visual country of NATO deciding to 30 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:13.920 donate what they can to help repel what would be an insane leader trying to 31 00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:23.040 take territory from by force from from another country, trying to run his flag 32 00:05:23.079 --> 00:05:31.360 in territories that don't belong to his country, and even if it is because 33 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:34.560 hey, if we want to pass, get us through, there are peaceful 34 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:47.519 ways to do that. And only a truly insane leader would continue a war 35 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:59.240 that and destruction of another person's country simply because I would gain, especially when 36 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:03.240 he can see the the rest of the world is not standing by idly to 37 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:14.120 let it happened. So on, moving on, We're also going to listen 38 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:21.959 to um the Western Canadian premiers. That would include h David Eby, Danielle 39 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:39.480 Smith, Scott Moe from Saskatchewan had their Stephenson of Manitoba, Rogie Polani of 40 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:46.519 Yukon, Caroline Coltrane Northwest Territories, and PJ al Gok from none of It. 41 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:55.560 They're gathered in worces Ord, BC to talk about issues that affect Western 42 00:06:55.639 --> 00:07:06.519 Canada, including preserving Canada's Arctic sovereignty. They will discuss issues around climate changeing 43 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:15.040 with oil and mining. There are a whole list of issues that they are 44 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:19.600 gathered together in a meeting to talk about. They can make presentations back to 45 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:31.199 the federal government and hopes that the things would would change on the Parliament floor, 46 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:38.839 to change the conversations on the parliament floor so that some of the fears 47 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:47.800 and issues of the people who live in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, 48 00:07:48.279 --> 00:07:58.720 Manitoba, Yukon Northwest territories and none of it can be heard in a better 49 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:05.800 light all with us. I wanted to discuss one more thing before we actually 50 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:09.199 get the show started, and that has to do with Bill C A teen 51 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:18.480 and how now that the Google is on board saying well, we're going to 52 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:28.439 not accept Canadian news content, the question comes about how will Canadians actually find 53 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:35.120 news stories if they aren't already subscribing. Do we are we now supposed to 54 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:41.320 pick and choose a Newsvenian to listen to? That is the case. I 55 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:50.240 hope that many decide to choose US ad depictions media for that. What is 56 00:08:50.320 --> 00:09:03.559 to come with Bill A teen when a major searching and social media platform aren't 57 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:13.399 accepting the content and simply because the government is saying that the corporations want more 58 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:18.240 pay for the content that is put out there, that they want a fair 59 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:24.440 or shake in comparison to other countries that they want it, and none of 60 00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:31.720 the statement is it actually made lead back to who's telling the truth. How 61 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:41.440 as average everyday citizens, are Canadians going to find what is true? And 62 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:56.679 how is this bill going to polarize conversations or will it really unify conversations so 63 00:09:56.759 --> 00:10:03.919 that people get on the same page with issues. Something you think about and 64 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:09.919 maybe something to write a letter or email correspondence however you want to say it, 65 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:20.120 send something back to the members of Parliament and see how this particular bill 66 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:31.240 can be augmented so that we have free information. So let's listen to today's 67 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:50.080 show and we're going to start with Canada in Nato, bonjou, Welcome to 68 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:56.000 Canada House. So we will get this pressor going. We will have introductory 69 00:10:56.039 --> 00:11:01.799 remarks both and from the Minister and the Secretary of State before opening for a 70 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:07.600 Q and A session. So Minister, well, good afternoon everyone. It 71 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:15.919 is an absolute pleasure to be here in London at Canada House with my colleague, 72 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:22.039 Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace. Today Secretary Wallace and I had 73 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:28.600 a very productive meeting to strengthen the deep and important relationship between Canada and the 74 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:37.279 United Kingdom. Our alliance is longstanding and unbreakable. Canada and British armed forces 75 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:43.960 have fought side by side in some of the most pivotal battles in modern history 76 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:54.360 to defend the principles of democracy, peace and freedom. These are not just 77 00:11:54.559 --> 00:12:01.919 empty words. These principles are the foundation of the rules based international order that 78 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:07.240 has kept us all safe since the end of the Second World War. But 79 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:13.720 these principles are increasingly challenged by countries such as Russia and China who wish to 80 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:20.919 upend the rules based international order for their own gain. And as the challenges 81 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:28.600 facing Canada and the United Kingdom accelerate, so will our collective response. Thank 82 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:35.200 you, Ambassador Vadim Pratishko for being here with us today. I want to 83 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:43.879 turn now for a moment to discuss Ukraine. We will continue to support Ukraine 84 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:48.399 as it defends its sovereignty and as it has had to do for over a 85 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:56.720 year now after Putin's unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal invasion. In fact, since 86 00:12:56.919 --> 00:13:03.519 February of last year, Canada has fitted over one billion dollars of military aid 87 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:09.159 for Ukraine, and as we recently announced, we are adding another five hundred 88 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:16.039 million dollars in aid to Ukraine. Canada has committed hundreds of armored vehicles, 89 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:22.200 eight Leopard two battle tanks, a Naysam's air defense system, artillery, ammunition, 90 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:30.679 and so much more to help Ukraine defend itself. The United Kingdom is 91 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:35.559 home to the Royal Canadian Air Force Detachment in Presswick, Scotland, which has 92 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:43.519 delivered over ten million pounds of Ukraine bound military aid donated by Canada, its 93 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:50.279 partners and allies using three Hercules aircraft. Thank you, mister Secretary for hosting 94 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:56.440 this detachment. Through Operation Unifier, the Canadian Armed Forces have trained over thirty 95 00:13:56.559 --> 00:14:03.120 six thousand Ukrainian troops with the skills that they need to defend their nation, 96 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:11.360 including right here on British soil. In collaboration with the UK's Operation Interflex at 97 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:18.679 Camp Lid, Canadian and Ukrainian United Kingdom Armed Forces work hand in hand to 98 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:26.000 train Ukrainians. Canada will continue to stand alongside our allies in support of Ukraine 99 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:31.799 for as long as it takes. Our two countries are both leading members of 100 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:39.480 NATO. Canada routinely deploys Royal Canadian Navy ships under the command of NATO Maritime 101 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:46.559 Command based in Northwood right here in the United Kingdom. Today, I am 102 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:52.879 happy to announce that His Majesty's Canadian ships Schwawinigan and Summerside, based at CFB 103 00:14:54.039 --> 00:15:00.960 Halifax, will be the next two Canadian ships to deploy on NATO maritime operations. 104 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:07.080 The two ships will deploy from Halifax on July third to join Standing NATO 105 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:15.480 Mind Countermeasures Group one on Operation Reassurance. This NATO Mind Countermeasures Group was established 106 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:20.919 in nineteen seventy three as Standing Naval Force Channel to clear World War two minds 107 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:31.000 from the English Channel. In addition to our efforts at sea, we are 108 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:39.200 going to continue to be part of this high Readiness task group with a long 109 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:43.879 history of clearing ordinance from the seas, making maritime routes safer for all maritime 110 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:54.120 activity. This deployment demonstrates Canada's ongoing commitment to NATO's high readiness continue at sea 111 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:58.919 presence and the Royal Canadian Navies leadership on the world stage to strength and security 112 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:06.440 throughout European waters. This deployment will mark the first for HMCS showing again and 113 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:11.360 a second for HMCS summer Side on Operation Reassurance. Both of these ships have 114 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:19.759 clearance diving teams and mine countermeasure search capabilities using autonomous underwater vehicles or jo dug 115 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:26.840 lucrisi de nan seque le navier candies show win again a summer side Bassier Ali 116 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:37.480 fat sur les de Prussian Navier Canada Etro depil carol le de navire qu Ali 117 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:48.759 fat Lutgeuille Premier group Platon de lute contre lemine Dona Catro del per reassurance so 118 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:56.519 Diploma de mont role Debumont continued the Canada Luton Leadership de la marine real rain 119 00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:06.480 mondial por fur si scrit don o repayen. In addition to our efforts at 120 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:11.440 SEE, both Canada and the UK are leading NATO Enhanced Forard presence battle groups 121 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:17.279 Canada in Latvia, the UK in Estonia, and last year our alliance agreed 122 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:22.039 to upgrade these battle groups from battalion to brigade side where and when required to 123 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:27.680 protect our eastern flank. As part of these efforts, I announced earlier this 124 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:36.359 month that Canada will deploy fifteen Leopard AT two A four m battle tanks to 125 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:42.519 Latvia, as well as supporting personnel and equipment. Our commitment to NATO is 126 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:48.640 ironclad and we will always do whatever it takes to defend every inch of NATO 127 00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:55.079 territory. Inclosing, Canada and the United Kingdom share a deep and historic relationship 128 00:17:55.559 --> 00:18:00.039 forged on the battle fields where we defended the values of peace and freedom for 129 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:07.920 all people. Our countries have an unbreakable bond and an abiding faith in democracy. 130 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:14.359 This relationship is resolute and we'll serve our people well long into the future. 131 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:18.200 Now I will turn it over to you, mister Secretary. Thank you, 132 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:22.920 Thank you Anita, and thank you visiting. We have met I think 133 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:26.480 three times in as many weeks or three weeks for Singapore and NATO and now 134 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:32.880 today, and I'm delighted to host you, and I'm glad that we managed 135 00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:37.279 to follow our relationships. We had a good, strong bilateral session this morning 136 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:42.440 where we discussed everything from Ukraine to the High North, to NATO and indeed 137 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:47.359 to the Pacific. And I think that's really important that we continue that strong 138 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:52.440 relationship that Anita has talked about going back hundreds of years and certainly side by 139 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:56.759 side and Canada Day, which is officially the first of July, is also 140 00:18:56.839 --> 00:19:02.200 the first day off the PSALM and we shouldn't forget that fifty seven thousand Commonwealth 141 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:07.240 soldiers lost their lives on that day. Canada has gained seventy seven Victoria Crosses 142 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:11.000 and both the First and the Second World War, fighting side by side on 143 00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:17.359 Juno Beach in D Day. And you know, even as recently as twenty 144 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:21.960 fourteen, after the invasion of Crimea by Russia, the illegal invasion, there 145 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:26.599 was four nations that stayed and trained in op orbital and the alongside the British, 146 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:30.240 with the Swedish, the United States and Canada, the fab four, 147 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:36.079 the original four who were there not at the time of the February invasion twenty 148 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:40.440 one, but have been there since the beginning, making sure Ukraine can stand 149 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:42.759 on its own two feet and help it with this capacity building. And you 150 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:48.000 know, I think when I think back to the day of the recent illegal 151 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:51.880 invasion, right there by our side. The next day when we had a 152 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:57.480 initial donor conference, Canada was there on the line immediately standing up for the 153 00:19:57.599 --> 00:20:02.200 values that we both share and making sure that we started the process that has 154 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:07.240 led to this international community's response. And you know, Canada's position is very 155 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:11.920 very important in that it says it's not just a European problem, it's a 156 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:15.519 global chapel. You know there is more to do, and I know Canada 157 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:19.559 and the United Kingdom are going to continue standing with Ukraine to make sure Russia 158 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:23.920 is expelled from its illegal invasion of that country and return it to its sovereign 159 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:27.119 right. And you know, the message, as I always say at these 160 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:32.880 press conferences to Putin, is the international community is going nowhere. Canada is 161 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:37.079 going nowhere, Britain is going nowhere. So don't base your calculations, mister 162 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:40.119 Putin, on the fact that somehow we're going to get bored and going to 163 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:42.359 do something else. We're not, but continue need to stand up. We 164 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:47.400 continue to reinforce. Our friends in the East of Europe, in Lithuania, 165 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:53.920 Latvia and Estonia and Poland were producing defense of our people but also contributing to 166 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:59.799 deterrent. Thank you, Thank you, minister, Thank you, mister Secretary. 167 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:03.519 So now we'll open up the Q and A session. Um, well, 168 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:08.799 I'll try to alternate between Canadian and uk outlets and I'll take a main 169 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:18.559 question and I follow up if desired. So just if you can just take 170 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:33.519 your name in outlet um both join guarantee join dates and Russia that should act 171 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:56.599 and however you as very serious responsive exertion using days and that's awesome too as 172 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.640 well. I answered that first bit, then I'll do the NATA and then 173 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:03.279 over to you need to learn. On the first bit, I read the 174 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:10.920 report. It's completely spurious. Right, when I appointed General Patrick over a 175 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:15.519 year ago, he'd already been three years commander's track com as a four star. 176 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:19.039 He has currently I think the longest serving four star in our armed forces. 177 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:23.000 And when I appointed him, the condition was he would be doing a 178 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:29.240 two year post. So there is no I saw those ridiculous sort of gossipy 179 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:33.119 report today that somehow there was a sort of he's spoken out and he's getting 180 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:37.720 a shorter not at all. That was the deal we originally made. It 181 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:41.079 was very important. You know, he'd done three years as a commander of 182 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:45.319 one of the services strategic commands, so that's it. There's no conspiracy, 183 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:48.559 nothing else. And yet you know, yes, as a general, he's 184 00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:52.839 made it clear his views, but I made my clear my views are in 185 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:56.880 support of him, that the army needs modernization. And I noticed his comments 186 00:22:56.920 --> 00:23:00.599 at Russie about antiques or whatever, which is why he's got forty billion pounds 187 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:07.319 for his army modernization program. Of his equipment. It's why since i'ving Defense 188 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:11.039 Sectory, they've had a twenty percent real term increase in their in their budget 189 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:15.480 of equipment. It is why they have a greater a portion of spend in 190 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:19.640 the department than they've had before. Because the army needs modernizing. So by 191 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:23.559 all means, we can criticize the state of the army that's been inherited, 192 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:27.960 but you can't criticize that this comes termed to modernize that army and bring it 193 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:33.519 forward. Challenger three boxer. I've fixed Ajax Ajax and now being delivered to 194 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:41.279 the front line units to start their training. The purchase, very quick purchase 195 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:45.720 of Archer to replace the AS nineties when we donated them from Ukraine. AS 196 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:48.440 ninety was out of date. We needed to start the next process. All 197 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:52.400 of those things have taken place under my watch and General Patricks and they will 198 00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:56.680 continue to do so. There are decisions around longer term deep fire platforms, 199 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:02.240 decisions around and and D and given other worlds Apache E grade that we've upgraded. 200 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.839 A lot of money gone into the army. It will be a very 201 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:10.400 modern army, but it has to do that time together on Natola Britain's position, 202 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:12.440 going right back to I think Bucharest, was that we believe Ukraine should 203 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:17.759 be able to join NATO. Obviously other members was less than thirty then, 204 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:22.079 but a number of members had a different view and NATO can only go forward 205 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:25.640 in an unanimous position. But we started the process. That's why we were 206 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:32.160 there in twenty fourteen, partly to help Ukraine's NATO capabilities build and its capacity 207 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:34.559 so that it would start on that program. I think it went from associate 208 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:38.960 member, and then the next discussion was membership Action Plan. Obviously Sweden and 209 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:42.759 Finland didn't have any of that, and I think that opens a fair question 210 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:48.599 about should at illness we just skipped that and say that subject to other conditions, 211 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:51.400 Ukraine should be able to come in and join. You know they after 212 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:56.240 all, they're going to have the most experienced land forces in Europe and probably 213 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:59.960 one of the most heavily armed countries in Europe. I think we should absolutely 214 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:03.000 look at skipping the Membership Action Plan, but of course we have to put 215 00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:07.640 some realism in this space that there are thirty one members of NATO now and 216 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:11.839 you know we have to all move together. But yes, the direction of 217 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:15.799 travel should be towards NATO membership, but I can't promise that at the Villena's 218 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:19.079 summit you're going to resolve those thirty one But I think we could be able 219 00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:23.279 to do is remove more barriers for Ukraine so that when this is over, 220 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:29.960 Ukraine moves towards more security, guarantees, more support. And right now we 221 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:33.920 are working the United Kingdom on a range of issues to ensure that after this 222 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:42.519 conflict Ukraine is safer. Along those lines, Canada and Ukraine share a bond 223 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:51.400 and a friendship that is long standing. We have one point four million Canadian 224 00:25:51.519 --> 00:26:00.240 Ukrainians in our country and the people to people ties, the bilateral ties run 225 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:08.200 very deep. In twenty fifteen, when we started Operation Unifier, we did 226 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:15.920 that because we wanted to continue to ensure that Ukrainian Armed Forces had what they 227 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:22.559 needed in order to ensure a repeat of twenty fourteen in CRIMEA did not occur 228 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:29.839 again. And under Operation Unifier, we've trained over thirty six thousand members of 229 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:37.160 the Ukrainian Armed Forces. And I paint that picture for you to highlight the 230 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:44.359 strength, the longevity, the importance of the relationship between our two countries, 231 00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:49.839 Canada and Ukraine, and with that in mind. We are very supportive of 232 00:26:51.319 --> 00:27:00.079 Ukraine's work with NATO members collaboratively, and when the conditions are right, we 233 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:08.119 will support Ukraine's ascension to NATO. Of course, this is an increasingly important 234 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:17.920 issue right now. Ukraine needs to win this war, and as Minister of 235 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:26.240 National Defense, my job is to ensure that the allocated funding that we've been 236 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:30.160 given now another five hundred million dollars on top of the one billion dollars that 237 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:37.079 we've already spent, is put to good use in service of Ukraine's efforts to 238 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:45.240 fight and win this war, to ensure the security of its democracy and its 239 00:27:45.440 --> 00:28:15.759 longevity in terms of peace and stability. Thank you. See see. I 240 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:18.680 think the first thing is to make sure that we're all moving in an upward 241 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:25.599 direction. But since I became Defense Sectuary, we've reversed the pattern that's happened 242 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:29.079 in the United Kingdom. We've actually had a real terms increase. We're going 243 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:32.720 to top out of over fifty billion pounds twenty four billion pounds extras since I 244 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:37.359 was Defense Sectuary. That's an important The first battle is the cultural shift that 245 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:41.039 the defense is no longer some sort of discretionary spend stuck on the side of 246 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:44.759 government that it is in fact a core part of our defense, of our 247 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:48.599 of our job as a government. And that's why I was really determined to 248 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:53.279 make sure that we see that shift towards a growing defense budget rather than a 249 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:56.359 shrinking one. You know, the defense budget twenty fifteen here was cut. 250 00:28:56.400 --> 00:29:00.640 I think by seven percent. We're on the upward should ejectory over two percent. 251 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:03.880 Of course, we want all NATO countries to be above two percent. 252 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:07.680 You know, that's no different that was decided in Cardiff. But you know, 253 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:11.960 the Canadians, I think of increased defense budget by seventy percent. That's 254 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:15.319 a significant uplift. That's the right direction to go. And I think, 255 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:18.880 you know, it's for individual countries to decide when they're going to get to 256 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:23.440 that target, and that's up to them. But ultimately the key here is 257 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:27.359 if we all spend our two percent, we could deter Russia and any other 258 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:33.799 adversaries better. But you know it takes time also to grow armies and defense. 259 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:36.240 You know, if someone gave me a check tomorrow morning for billions of 260 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:40.000 pounds, it wouldn't actually be able to just spend it, right, You 261 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:42.319 can't buy a warship in a year. You can't buy a missile in a 262 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:47.519 year. You can't recruit and train another brigade in a year. It takes 263 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:52.519 time. So the key for US as as an over two percent country is 264 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:56.440 to see that the direction of travel is up. Of course, I will 265 00:29:56.440 --> 00:30:02.000 say to my friends in Canada and in France, in Germany and in Denmark 266 00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:04.400 and in all those other countries that are not at two percent, you should 267 00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:07.960 try and get there. Because also, you know, the United States, 268 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:14.799 as a big contributor, is quite clear that it believes that contributions matter. 269 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:18.119 And also the United States, that we can see when it discusses specific is 270 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:22.839 thinking about its liabilities. In America is on the hook for three hundred thousand 271 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:29.240 plus troops towards Europe and NATO. I'm quite sure if I had that liability 272 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:32.960 as a country, I'd been encouraging other people to burden share. But look, 273 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:37.440 the directional travel seventy percent up. You know, a rising tide is 274 00:30:37.480 --> 00:31:07.799 important, and I think that's the first plank and very key. No I 275 00:31:07.160 --> 00:31:10.680 am, well, first of all, I've just seen like you in open 276 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:14.960 media. I don't know what's happened to any of these people. Obviously, 277 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:19.160 mister Progoshan has gone off to Belarus for a summer holiday and Vagner has dissipated. 278 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:22.799 I think what I would say is, you know, from a from 279 00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:27.920 a UK point of view, if General Grazimov and Minnster Shoigu are still in 280 00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:34.680 charge, then the huge amounts of failure they've delivered on the battlefield will no 281 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:38.119 doubt continue. And you know, if if it means Laurel and Hardy are 282 00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:42.039 still running the Russian armed forces and campaign, then that's to the benefit of 283 00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:56.119 the Ukrainians. My view is twofold. First, what happens inside Russia is 284 00:31:56.200 --> 00:32:05.880 particular to Russia. My focus is on Ukraine. My focus is ensuring that 285 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:15.720 we're continuing to support Ukraine with military aid and equipment. Canada is the largest 286 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:22.240 donor per capita in the G seven in terms of financial aid. We've contributed 287 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:30.920 over eight billion dollars in financial, military and humanitarian aid. My focus has 288 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:37.279 got to stay on Ukraine's winning this war, and they are showing gains in 289 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:45.519 the north, in the East and the South and showing incredible resilience and around 290 00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:52.319 the NATO table. Our job is to continue to support that effort. Thank 291 00:32:52.359 --> 00:33:17.519 you, Global will we have A lot of it depends on the options, 292 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:21.160 right, I mean there is a range of options you could do to help 293 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:24.200 Ukraine. How much do you want to gift, how much does Ukraine want 294 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:28.759 to buy, how much do you want to loan, how much? How 295 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:35.759 much physical support you want to give through training or or troop. I mean 296 00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:38.000 it's a what we have examined is a range, and the problem is the 297 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:42.640 rangers vast so and also how many international partners you have doing with it. 298 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:46.680 So I think the key here is we have to make sure we support Ukraine's 299 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:53.000 economy and that it remains viable and all the way through this presidents of Anski's 300 00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:59.119 the toughest task President Anski has faced is how to balance keeping his economy going 301 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:04.920 with fighting the war, because those are the two ways you can fail. 302 00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:09.239 Either the military invasion of the Russia was successful, all the economy collapses and 303 00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:15.519 Ukraine then effectively has real other challenges. And so that is a task at 304 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:20.079 an envy. But you know he's managed to do that, and that will 305 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:23.599 obviously dictate the cost and the scale of support required for Ukraine after this war. 306 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:29.840 But there's no point me speculating on such a broad element. And I'll 307 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:35.599 just add to that by stepping back and taking a look at the actual process 308 00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:43.079 that these fifty plus countries undertake when they're around the Defense Contact Group table. 309 00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:50.239 What we do as a group of collaborators is to ensure that we are filling 310 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:57.400 the gaps that exist in the military equipment in defense needs that Ukraine has. 311 00:34:57.960 --> 00:35:04.199 So at every meeting we will have a broad based discussion about what is needed 312 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:07.000 at this time. And if you look at the military aid that has been 313 00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:12.079 provided over the course of a year and a half, it is certainly shifted 314 00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:19.280 to some extent, beginning with things like sniper rifles and ammunition for those rifles, 315 00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:25.159 fragmentation vests and food packs, and moving towards more and more complex types 316 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:30.920 of military aid to armored vehicles M triple sevens, artillery for the M triple 317 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:36.559 sevens, nasam's defense systems, and labor two A four main battle tanks. 318 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:45.320 And so it's not so much about putting a specific number on a vast array 319 00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:51.800 of different types of military aid needed in the moment, so much as it 320 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:55.519 is to suggest that at a very broad level, we are all committed to 321 00:35:55.639 --> 00:36:30.920 supporting Ukraine in the short and the long term well I'm not going to speculate 322 00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:35.119 what this report does or doesn't find. When the report's published, then of 323 00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:37.280 course we will make a decision about all of that. I mean, the 324 00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:40.760 Chief of the Air Staff is obviously given an interview to the media today about 325 00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:45.599 it. He's apologized, he's recognized that they did discriminate, that the thirty 326 00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:51.360 one individuals will be compensated, and that the other point of notice is that 327 00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:59.440 while the whole thing has been I think a significant error and indeed a cause 328 00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:04.519 for regret of the RAF, they didn't lower the standards. They discriminated against 329 00:37:04.599 --> 00:37:07.760 those people that were applying who were above the standards, so our military output 330 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:13.199 wasn't put at risk. However, the treatment of the people applying was what 331 00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:17.360 it was, you was wrong, unsatisfactory, and you know, I also 332 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:23.880 think that the treatment of the officer who raised concerns and her very genuine worry 333 00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:30.159 is being ignored was something that needs to be looked at considerably about why she 334 00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:32.400 was ignored, why indeed she was put under that pressure. And I don't 335 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:37.239 want to see anyone put under pressure to do something like what we've seen in 336 00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:40.840 the RAF. But I have committed that I will be publishing almost in full 337 00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:44.519 the whole reports, I think, as full as I can publish it, 338 00:37:45.079 --> 00:38:14.480 and then we can discuss about what happens next globe Nil. I can't talk 339 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:17.599 for Canadian public opinion, but it's public opinions about seventy two percent in favor 340 00:38:17.599 --> 00:38:22.400 of Ukraine. It's not waning here. I mean, I know I've had 341 00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:27.079 endless questions from the media for the last year about waning support. But the 342 00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:30.800 actions speak louder than that speculation. The actions show a high level of support. 343 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:36.679 Government itself has support another two point three billion pounds to support Ukraine. 344 00:38:37.320 --> 00:38:38.880 The direction of try just look at the direction of travel the international community. 345 00:38:38.920 --> 00:38:43.679 We started this whole thing with debates about whether or not we should put handheld 346 00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:47.440 short range anti tank weapons, and now we're standing here discussing leopard tanks, 347 00:38:47.559 --> 00:38:53.079 we're discussing long range fires, we're discussing F sixteen's, we're discussing you know, 348 00:38:53.320 --> 00:38:57.840 a range of weapons system storm shadow systems. So so you know, 349 00:38:58.079 --> 00:39:00.679 the evidence shows that the opposite. But I think if you if you know, 350 00:39:00.760 --> 00:39:04.880 I was talking to my constituents in Preston and I'd say, why should 351 00:39:04.880 --> 00:39:07.159 you support, Well, look at your fuel prices right. Number one, 352 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:14.360 you know, Russia using energy blackmail is one of the reasons you have fuel 353 00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:19.440 prices like you do. That's why you're hurting under inflation. Secondly, bread 354 00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:22.719 basket of Europe Ukraine. When Russia attacked Ukraine, look what it does to 355 00:39:22.760 --> 00:39:29.239 the grain price. Your shopping basket is more expensive because of Russia's activity, 356 00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:31.199 and we need to make sure that is stopped so we can try and get 357 00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:37.800 back to some stability. And number three, Russia is directly trying to go 358 00:39:37.920 --> 00:39:40.519 after the very values that you and your family believe in. And if they 359 00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:45.320 are successful in Ukraine, they won't he won't stop there. And I think 360 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:47.960 that's important as well. Know, now is the time to realize that, 361 00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:52.079 you know, sometimes freedom is worth fighting for and freedom is worth funding. 362 00:39:52.119 --> 00:39:55.480 Freedom isn't free, as it says on these Korean War memoil in Soul. 363 00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:59.320 And you know what's amazing, And I don't know, I can't speak of 364 00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:02.159 Canada, but and you go to the British Parliament or you go and see 365 00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:07.039 the demonstrations here. It's full of young people, It's full of the left 366 00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:10.480 and the right who all believe that this is their conflict. Their value is 367 00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:15.519 under threat and deeply value it. And I think you know the whole of 368 00:40:15.599 --> 00:40:19.480 the British Parliament is in support. Everything from the Scottish National Party to the 369 00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:23.480 Labor front Bench, to the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives are all entirely beyond 370 00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:27.440 that. Now. I can't speak for Canada, but for us, we 371 00:40:27.639 --> 00:40:31.000 know what it's like to stand alone. We know what it's like to be 372 00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:36.559 isolated, and we don't like bullies, and we know that as a global 373 00:40:36.679 --> 00:40:44.239 trade free country we are susceptible to things like energy blackmail. Across our country. 374 00:40:45.239 --> 00:40:52.880 We see Ukrainian flags flying from porches, flying from cars worn on lapels, 375 00:40:55.480 --> 00:41:04.320 and Canadians understand not only the importance of assisting Ukraine in its time of 376 00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:14.280 need for the purpose of ukraine sovereignty, they also understand that Ukraines sovereignty and 377 00:41:14.440 --> 00:41:23.079 democracy is our own sovereignty and democracy. That if we stand idly buy and 378 00:41:23.239 --> 00:41:32.119 allow putin to redraw maps and walk across borders claiming territory that is not his, 379 00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:43.400 then we aren't living up to the values that our four fathers and fathers 380 00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:52.440 fought and died for. And we must therefore stand shoulder to short shoulder with 381 00:41:52.519 --> 00:41:59.440 our NATO allies and friends and partners in support of that rule's based international order 382 00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:01.920 that has kept us all safe since the end of the Second World War. 383 00:42:04.199 --> 00:42:14.599 I would say further that the Canadian government has taken very seriously rising costs and 384 00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:19.400 inflation, despite the fact that we have one of the lowest inflation rates in 385 00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:23.039 the G seven. How have we done this? What is an example? 386 00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:29.719 Well, I have many the Canada Child Benefit ten dollars a day, childcare, 387 00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:35.639 dental care, the grocery rebate. We will continue to be there to 388 00:42:35.760 --> 00:42:44.519 support Canadian families, especially in times of economic need, while at the same 389 00:42:44.679 --> 00:42:52.000 time support the principles of democracy, freedom and peace. Thank you you have 390 00:42:52.119 --> 00:43:15.679 done. For one last question us who leads Russia as a matter for Russian 391 00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:19.679 people from the Russia and you know the needy said earlier on the question it 392 00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:22.320 you know, what goes on is a matter for them. We of course 393 00:43:22.400 --> 00:43:25.239 we can, we can be commentators on it, but ultimately, you know, 394 00:43:25.320 --> 00:43:31.239 the reality is the most important thing is for Russia to be defeated in 395 00:43:31.360 --> 00:43:37.599 Ukraine and the Russian armed forces leave Ukraine. And you know, of all 396 00:43:37.639 --> 00:43:44.760 the Progosian event, there's one part of it that is really important. And 397 00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:52.639 while I have no support or links or in any way with Vargner and Progosian, 398 00:43:52.679 --> 00:43:55.840 which are a thoroughly nasty bunch of people, he did expose the war 399 00:43:57.000 --> 00:44:02.559 narrative as false from the Kremlin his video he posted which clearly said NATO was 400 00:44:02.639 --> 00:44:07.519 not going to attack Russia. Ukraine was not going to attack Russia. You 401 00:44:07.639 --> 00:44:12.360 have been lied to by Karazimov and shure you go, mister Putin, there 402 00:44:12.519 --> 00:44:15.639 was no need for that. That's his that's him saying that in Russia to 403 00:44:15.840 --> 00:44:21.320 Russians. That is the truth that we have been saying for over a year, 404 00:44:21.840 --> 00:44:25.239 even before the war, and that's coming from him. So that's quite 405 00:44:25.280 --> 00:44:30.639 important that the Russian public understand and hear that. But that's something it's not 406 00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:35.000 a relevant revelation. We all knew that, but it'll interesting if the people 407 00:44:35.039 --> 00:44:38.519 of Russia hear that. Thank you very much. I know you were going 408 00:44:38.559 --> 00:45:19.119 to y. But Patrick Swan is an outstanding and a first class general. 409 00:45:19.639 --> 00:45:22.760 He's brilliant, he has a great record, an operational record. He led 410 00:45:24.039 --> 00:45:28.000 the Strategic Command, as I said, for three years as a full star. 411 00:45:28.119 --> 00:45:32.159 He has now led the army. But look, we're organizing I'm twenty 412 00:45:32.239 --> 00:45:37.159 forty thousand people. Ministers come and go, right, Generals come and go. 413 00:45:37.760 --> 00:45:44.159 That is the nature of our armed forces. The fight against Russia in 414 00:45:44.280 --> 00:45:49.760 support of Ukraine has been carried out by a range of people. And you 415 00:45:49.840 --> 00:45:53.039 know, I don't think that, you know, interrupting the normal scheme of 416 00:45:53.159 --> 00:46:00.400 things would necessarily will We'll make a difference. Ultimately, I am confident that 417 00:46:00.440 --> 00:46:07.199 the quality of the generals we have that I will be interviewing for the post 418 00:46:07.559 --> 00:46:12.320 will be able to continue to deliver the same effect as required. And of 419 00:46:12.440 --> 00:46:15.000 course, remember how the services function. The services are there to generate the 420 00:46:15.079 --> 00:46:22.639 forces to meet the task set by the Center, and the tasks are set 421 00:46:22.760 --> 00:46:27.280 by effect for the sectory of state alongside Chief to de vent Staff and the 422 00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:31.519 others other generals who then carry those out. So I'm very confident that whoever 423 00:46:31.960 --> 00:46:37.760 were to replace General Patrick will be able to continue his extant work. And 424 00:46:37.880 --> 00:46:43.320 I'm also very confident that General Patrick has contributed amazingly to not only the Ukraine 425 00:46:43.360 --> 00:46:45.679 but the overall reform and modernization of the army. But I don't think you 426 00:46:45.679 --> 00:46:52.119 should have a concern that changing him out on an agreed timetable already is. 427 00:46:52.519 --> 00:46:57.239 It's not a reflection on him and it is not going to undermine in any 428 00:46:57.280 --> 00:47:01.880 way our military response to Ukraine. Okay, thank you, thank you for 429 00:47:14.159 --> 00:47:21.039 it's great to see you here on Lowat and Squamish Territory and real honor for 430 00:47:21.159 --> 00:47:24.400 me to be here with my colleagues from across Western Canada and the North. 431 00:47:25.280 --> 00:47:29.920 It was a wonderful set of discussions at the conference. We had a very 432 00:47:29.960 --> 00:47:35.840 successful meeting and very grateful for their time. My apologies to the media. 433 00:47:35.880 --> 00:47:37.840 We're starting a little earlier than you may have expected. We were told we 434 00:47:37.920 --> 00:47:45.440 had to hit the Ontario newscast deadline. Just kidding. I grew up in 435 00:47:45.519 --> 00:47:49.840 Kitchener. I'm allowed to make I'm allowed to make Toronto jokes. They played 436 00:47:49.840 --> 00:47:54.000 particularly well in Western Canada. We had we had really productive discussion on our 437 00:47:54.039 --> 00:48:00.840 shared priorities. We have certainly big challenges in the West today. Many of 438 00:48:00.960 --> 00:48:07.119 us have grappled with very serious forest fires this season. We have issues around 439 00:48:07.239 --> 00:48:12.000 finding the people to fill the jobs that we have to drive our economies, 440 00:48:12.079 --> 00:48:15.519 our provincial economies, our territorial economies forward. We have challenges around the cost 441 00:48:15.559 --> 00:48:20.840 of living and affordability for the people that we serve, but it's also a 442 00:48:20.920 --> 00:48:25.719 time of incredible opportunity for Western Canada. We see the weight of population growth 443 00:48:27.280 --> 00:48:31.760 shifting the weight of the country to the west. We see that our provinces 444 00:48:31.800 --> 00:48:37.599 and territories offer the energy and the solutions to many of the problems that the 445 00:48:37.679 --> 00:48:44.400 world's economy faces, and the security to many countries that they're looking for around 446 00:48:44.440 --> 00:48:47.960 critical minerals and energy security, as well as what our own country is looking 447 00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:54.239 for. We had really important discussions about a number of topics of shared interest. 448 00:48:55.079 --> 00:49:00.920 In particular, we discussed strengthening our strategic infrastructure trade corridors, finding ways 449 00:49:00.960 --> 00:49:06.760 to get our goods to market efficiently and effectively, to grow our provinces and 450 00:49:06.920 --> 00:49:13.119 territories economies, but also our national economy, to collaborate on climate action and 451 00:49:13.320 --> 00:49:21.199 adaptation, including addressing issues of energy security both domestically and internationally, related to 452 00:49:21.280 --> 00:49:29.840 everything from electricity to energy project products like llergy. We talked about how provinces 453 00:49:29.880 --> 00:49:35.440 and territories are key partners in the immigration system, how dependent we are on 454 00:49:36.039 --> 00:49:39.760 working together with the federal government around immigration to address issues of labor shortage, 455 00:49:40.199 --> 00:49:45.960 certainly and also to ensure that people who arrive newly to our provinces and territories 456 00:49:46.000 --> 00:49:51.440 receive the support that they need. We talked about our labor market and they 457 00:49:51.480 --> 00:49:55.280 need to remove barriers to ensure labor mobility, but also to meet the needs 458 00:49:55.320 --> 00:50:01.079 that we have in our different provincial economies. The premiers from the North talked 459 00:50:01.079 --> 00:50:08.920 about the critical importance of Arctic sovereignty and preserving Canada's Arctic sovereignty and it was 460 00:50:09.760 --> 00:50:15.079 that a priority on that agenda item was supported by all premiers as we recognize 461 00:50:15.639 --> 00:50:22.639 the importance of a free North and a sovereign North that is a critical part 462 00:50:22.679 --> 00:50:28.239 of Canada and is of interest internationally right now, especially following recent events. 463 00:50:29.599 --> 00:50:37.079 Finally, we discussed crime and the bail reform bill that was not passed at 464 00:50:37.119 --> 00:50:43.480 the federal level and are shared urging to the federal government to prioritize the passage 465 00:50:43.480 --> 00:50:46.519 of that bill and our share deep disappointment that that bill was not passed in 466 00:50:46.559 --> 00:50:52.639 the recent parliamentary session. The last few years taught us through the pandemic certainly 467 00:50:53.480 --> 00:50:58.599 that we can solve big problems if we work together. And while we're not 468 00:50:59.119 --> 00:51:02.559 going to agree on every thing, we are politicians first of all, and 469 00:51:02.920 --> 00:51:10.320 uh and we sometimes have challenges finding points of agreement, but actually during our 470 00:51:10.360 --> 00:51:16.119 meetings, I think the focus because we're focused on Canadians, because we're focused 471 00:51:16.159 --> 00:51:22.039 on our communities and who we represent, we found very broad areas of agreement, 472 00:51:22.440 --> 00:51:25.159 shared priority and how we can work together to not just improve our own 473 00:51:25.239 --> 00:51:30.159 homes, but to really help build the Canada that we're all so proud of, 474 00:51:31.000 --> 00:51:36.280 we're all so proud to be a part of, and in that Western 475 00:51:36.360 --> 00:51:42.000 Canada we believe will provide such prosperity to going into the future. So with 476 00:51:42.159 --> 00:51:45.320 that, I'd like to open it up for questions from the media. All 477 00:51:45.360 --> 00:51:52.440 premiers are prepared to answer questions and I'll pass it over to MC. Thank 478 00:51:52.519 --> 00:51:55.079 you very much. A reminder to media on the line, please press Star 479 00:51:55.199 --> 00:52:00.280 one to enter the queue. You will be limited to one question and one 480 00:52:00.360 --> 00:52:02.800 follow up. We will begin with media here in the room. Our first 481 00:52:02.880 --> 00:52:09.119 question comes from Richard Essman Global News. You speak about growing pressure on Western 482 00:52:09.239 --> 00:52:15.679 Canada due to the population shifting west. Is there a call from the premiers 483 00:52:15.800 --> 00:52:22.519 here to change the way that projects are funded from Ottawa to better compensate for 484 00:52:22.679 --> 00:52:28.840 that population growth or growing pressure to this part of the country. Well, 485 00:52:28.880 --> 00:52:34.679 I'd certainly invite another premiere to weigh in as well, But my feeling was 486 00:52:35.559 --> 00:52:40.719 from our conversations today that we see huge opportunity in the growing numbers of people 487 00:52:40.760 --> 00:52:45.480 that are choosing to live, in particular in Western Canada in the North, 488 00:52:45.559 --> 00:52:49.719 but we also see challenges that come with that if that's not done in a 489 00:52:49.800 --> 00:52:52.360 thoughtful way. That the need for the federal government to work with us to 490 00:52:52.559 --> 00:52:58.079 ensure that we're targeting immigration that helps address pressures that we see in our labor 491 00:52:58.159 --> 00:53:04.880 markets. So in British certainly around construction, around childcare, skilled trades, 492 00:53:05.400 --> 00:53:13.880 we all discussed the need for healthcare workers, making sure that we're leveraging immigration 493 00:53:14.199 --> 00:53:19.199 and in partnership with the federal government to make sure that we're growing our populations 494 00:53:19.239 --> 00:53:22.000 but also growing our economies, and the only way we can do that is 495 00:53:22.119 --> 00:53:28.000 to do it in a coordinated, coordinated way. The second piece that stood 496 00:53:28.000 --> 00:53:30.920 out for me from the conversation was how critical it is that the supports are 497 00:53:30.960 --> 00:53:36.840 in place for new arrivals. We talked in particular about new arrivals from Ukraine 498 00:53:37.440 --> 00:53:42.360 and making sure that they have the support that they need when they're arriving in 499 00:53:42.599 --> 00:53:46.280 provinces under that special federal government program that is going to be renewed in mid 500 00:53:46.400 --> 00:53:52.559 July, and treats that particular population differently than other refugees coming to Canada, 501 00:53:53.239 --> 00:53:58.480 and so making sure that their supports they're not just for Ukrainian refugees, but 502 00:53:58.840 --> 00:54:04.199 for new bivals generally, including international students, temporary foreign workers, and others 503 00:54:04.280 --> 00:54:10.199 under federal programs. Including people immigrating through regular pathways is critically important for all 504 00:54:10.199 --> 00:54:15.119 of us. I wonder if there's another premier that is interested in sharing a 505 00:54:15.119 --> 00:54:19.320 perspective on the immigration issue. The only other thing I would might add is 506 00:54:19.559 --> 00:54:23.679 the importance of having per capita funding with no strings attached, so that each 507 00:54:23.760 --> 00:54:30.079 jurisdiction has the ability to identify the projects that are important to them so that 508 00:54:30.119 --> 00:54:35.119 they can continue to grow with their needs. Acknowledging that small jurisdictions like the 509 00:54:35.280 --> 00:54:38.440 territories need a special arrangement so that they can ensure that they've got the funding 510 00:54:38.480 --> 00:54:43.840 support. We're also interested in equivalency and fairness. I think that if the 511 00:54:44.000 --> 00:54:47.119 federal government wants to help support those projects, they need to be mindful of 512 00:54:47.440 --> 00:54:51.840 providing some kind of equivalency in each jurisdiction. Those are some of the other 513 00:54:51.920 --> 00:54:58.119 issues that were raised into the point of equivalency in it this maybe for Premier 514 00:54:58.159 --> 00:55:00.119 Smith. I'd also like to hear from Premier beyond this as well. Is 515 00:55:00.199 --> 00:55:07.000 this more money to Western Canada and less Ontario and Quebec, or is this 516 00:55:07.280 --> 00:55:13.280 more money for old provinces from the federal government. How would that sort of 517 00:55:13.320 --> 00:55:15.400 break down. We're considering the pressures we're feeling here in the West that may 518 00:55:15.440 --> 00:55:23.840 be different than what they're seeing in Ontario and Quebec. Thanks, I want 519 00:55:23.880 --> 00:55:29.079 to speak for the whole table, but certainly from British Columbia's perspective, one 520 00:55:29.119 --> 00:55:31.960 of the messages that we continually send to the federal government is whether it's housing 521 00:55:32.039 --> 00:55:39.199 money, whether it's money for economic development related to climate and ensuring that we're 522 00:55:39.239 --> 00:55:46.239 competitive in the global transition that's happening, whether it's funding for indigenous housing, 523 00:55:46.320 --> 00:55:52.119 whether it's funding for infrastructure that British Columbia needs to see at least our fair 524 00:55:52.159 --> 00:56:00.280 share on a per capita basis with other provinces. And again we recognize nique 525 00:56:00.320 --> 00:56:06.119 needs of places like the territories like the North to have special arrangements. UM 526 00:56:06.480 --> 00:56:09.360 but I have been concerned and I have shared that concern federally that BC has 527 00:56:09.440 --> 00:56:15.079 not seen our fair share of this type of funding. And you'll see in 528 00:56:15.119 --> 00:56:19.559 the community ah the emphasis from all provinces that that needs to be a key 529 00:56:19.639 --> 00:56:23.000 consideration of the federal government for funding programs. It doesn't mean that other provinces 530 00:56:23.039 --> 00:56:27.239 need to be funded less. It means that the funding that's available from the 531 00:56:27.280 --> 00:56:31.719 federal government needs to be distributed fairly. Yeah, I would agree with Premier 532 00:56:31.800 --> 00:56:37.440 rev on all of that. And you know, our our our natural resource 533 00:56:37.519 --> 00:56:40.639 based economies, innovation based economies in the in the western half of our nation 534 00:56:40.719 --> 00:56:45.679 are are growing, you know, for example in the Scotch when we're growing 535 00:56:45.800 --> 00:56:50.440 at our fastest rate from a population perspective um that we have in one hundred 536 00:56:50.440 --> 00:56:53.360 and eight years over a century since we've grown at the rate that we are. 537 00:56:53.400 --> 00:56:58.119 And I think that's true in many of the Western provinces. And and 538 00:56:58.239 --> 00:57:01.639 so there is concerns, I think, at least from Saskatchewan's perspective and and 539 00:57:01.800 --> 00:57:07.760 likely others, around fair and equitable treatment investing in uh in uh in in 540 00:57:07.920 --> 00:57:13.599 the settlement services, for example, of of new immigrants including Ukrainian immigrants that 541 00:57:13.639 --> 00:57:17.599 are coming to our to our communities. There's concerns around the investments that are 542 00:57:17.639 --> 00:57:21.639 being made in that you know, that very economy. And as we are 543 00:57:21.719 --> 00:57:24.840 you know, finding our way to not only producing the products energy products for 544 00:57:24.920 --> 00:57:28.840 example, that have been used in the past or being used today, but 545 00:57:28.960 --> 00:57:32.320 as we prepare to produce those those products that are are going to be in 546 00:57:32.400 --> 00:57:36.960 demand tomorrow, the rare earth elements of lithium, those those uh, those 547 00:57:37.039 --> 00:57:39.920 types of products. And so I think we would share in some of the 548 00:57:40.000 --> 00:57:45.360 fair and equitable balance of investment not only in the advancement of m and preservation 549 00:57:45.480 --> 00:57:50.960 of the jobs and in the in the strong economies that we have in our 550 00:57:51.000 --> 00:57:54.679 respective provinces and territories, but also in you know, supporting those that are 551 00:57:54.719 --> 00:58:00.599 coming to participate in that economy as we you know, as we grow our 552 00:58:00.639 --> 00:58:05.199 our province's population and we grow our our community's population, and those services are 553 00:58:05.599 --> 00:58:08.239 are are necessary and need to be provided. And so we discussed that, 554 00:58:09.400 --> 00:58:15.320 um you know, that fairer and equitable investment by by other levels of government, 555 00:58:15.440 --> 00:58:19.599 namely the federal level of government. We I think look forward to continuing 556 00:58:19.679 --> 00:58:23.960 that discussion right through the Council of Federation table. So I'd like to add 557 00:58:24.000 --> 00:58:28.800 on from the North. From the North, the other ones can join if 558 00:58:28.800 --> 00:58:32.400 they want. The North is different. Um, when you talk about equitable 559 00:58:32.440 --> 00:58:36.280 services, then you need to think of the North. And I think all 560 00:58:36.280 --> 00:58:40.039 the premiers at this conference have agreed, and that's why they identified that the 561 00:58:40.119 --> 00:58:45.840 North is different. We are at the forefront of climate change. We're at 562 00:58:45.880 --> 00:58:50.719 the forefront of our security and safety, which people are now paying attention to. 563 00:58:51.400 --> 00:58:54.639 We have infrastructure gaps that are huge that people don't realize. We have 564 00:58:54.760 --> 00:58:59.320 no road systems to many of our communities. Some of us to any of 565 00:58:59.400 --> 00:59:02.960 our communities is the energy sources are not there. We're reliant on diesel. 566 00:59:04.400 --> 00:59:07.599 We don't have the telecommunications that people take for granted here. So when we 567 00:59:07.719 --> 00:59:12.559 talk about equity, we need to make sure that the people in the Northwest 568 00:59:12.679 --> 00:59:15.679 territ or the North period have the same level as services that people in the 569 00:59:15.800 --> 00:59:20.039 South take for granted. So yeah, I do think that there needs were 570 00:59:20.119 --> 00:59:23.800 redistribution of the wealth, and I do think that the federal government needs not 571 00:59:24.000 --> 00:59:30.159 only give large funding to the eastern provinces. I think they need to take 572 00:59:30.199 --> 00:59:34.519 care of the West and the North. We are all Canadians and we all 573 00:59:34.599 --> 00:59:39.079 deserve to prosper. Thank you. Our next question from the room comes from 574 00:59:39.119 --> 00:59:45.159 Bunois Ferradini, CBC at your Canada. Hello. My question is about climate 575 00:59:45.280 --> 00:59:51.800 action. Can you detail what you request from the federal and also are their 576 00:59:51.880 --> 00:59:58.960 diffront views depending on where climate chance had the most impact provinces, all territories. 577 01:00:01.039 --> 01:00:07.159 Thanks. There was a broad interest across the table from all premiers and 578 01:00:07.239 --> 01:00:15.480 certainly from all Canadians about reducing carbon pollution and addressing climate change. I would 579 01:00:15.519 --> 01:00:22.440 say that there was certainly some anxiety around the table from premiers from some jurisdictions, 580 01:00:22.519 --> 01:00:29.440 particularly around timelines related to decarbonizing the electrical generation systems and their provinces. 581 01:00:30.320 --> 01:00:35.079 British Columbia is fortunately in a position of having a lot of hydro electricity and 582 01:00:35.239 --> 01:00:40.039 the ability to support jurisdictions other than our, so certainly part of the conversation 583 01:00:40.199 --> 01:00:46.559 was how do we support each other in sharing our strengths, and one of 584 01:00:46.599 --> 01:00:50.199 those the British Columbia was able to put on the table as if we can 585 01:00:50.280 --> 01:00:54.320 find ways to entertie with for example, with the Yukon to support them in 586 01:00:54.400 --> 01:01:01.239 their efforts to access more electricity to grow their economy and carbonized their electrical grid. 587 01:01:01.960 --> 01:01:07.239 Then that's very good news for everybody. And so that was what my 588 01:01:07.400 --> 01:01:12.679 takeaway was from the discussion was that we need to look to each other's strengths 589 01:01:13.519 --> 01:01:15.480 to support each other and the work that we need to do, and that 590 01:01:15.599 --> 01:01:21.280 the federal government in their programs needs to look at each province in terms of 591 01:01:21.400 --> 01:01:25.760 our strengths and also where we're going to need additional support and consideration for the 592 01:01:25.840 --> 01:01:30.920 unique positioning of our provinces. I wonder if there's another premiere that is interested 593 01:01:30.960 --> 01:01:35.159 in sure, I mean, I can win as well. I mean, 594 01:01:35.199 --> 01:01:39.239 obviously it won't surprise you that the thirteen billion dollar investment in Ontario's battery factory 595 01:01:39.280 --> 01:01:44.960 and the Atlantic Loop and the significant investment came up, and we've got equivalent 596 01:01:45.039 --> 01:01:47.039 investments that need to be made in Western Canada. We've got carbon capture, 597 01:01:47.119 --> 01:01:52.079 utilization and storage in Alberta. We've got hydrogen. We've got very jurisdictions exploring 598 01:01:52.280 --> 01:01:55.760 small module or nuclear. We've got the strategic infrastructure that needs to be built 599 01:01:57.199 --> 01:02:00.440 in the northern communities with ports as well as rail access so that we can 600 01:02:00.480 --> 01:02:05.679 get critical minerals to market and so seeing that federal government's prepared to make those 601 01:02:05.760 --> 01:02:09.280 kinds of investments in Eastern canada's fantastic and we support that those kind of investments. 602 01:02:09.320 --> 01:02:12.519 That's what I'm talking about with equivalency, is that there has to be 603 01:02:12.559 --> 01:02:15.039 a recognition that if we're going to address these issues, we have to address 604 01:02:15.079 --> 01:02:19.199 them in different ways in each jurisdiction, and there has to be a similar 605 01:02:19.199 --> 01:02:28.679 amount of interest and investment from the federal government. Uh yeah, I just 606 01:02:28.880 --> 01:02:34.360 I really appreciate it. The conversation about collaboration today and speaking with Premier ev 607 01:02:34.559 --> 01:02:38.599 And and focusing on for us in the ukon the potential of a great connection. 608 01:02:38.960 --> 01:02:43.719 It's it's it's foundational to our ability to reduce our emissions and to meet 609 01:02:43.760 --> 01:02:49.119 our climate change goals. We're we're having a season this year where we're lucky 610 01:02:49.159 --> 01:02:53.239 we can deploy resources to our neighbors that are dealing with with fires and our 611 01:02:53.280 --> 01:02:59.480 floting season has been minimal this year. But I mean the collaboration is going 612 01:02:59.519 --> 01:03:02.840 to be key. Think as Premier eb said, there's there's strengths that we 613 01:03:02.960 --> 01:03:07.400 all can lean on. For us, a great connection to British columby the 614 01:03:07.440 --> 01:03:13.199 early stage conversation that opportunity not only will drive a Northwestern Canadian economy when it 615 01:03:13.239 --> 01:03:16.440 comes to critical minerals and you would and the cleanest way possible, but it 616 01:03:16.559 --> 01:03:21.559 is also going to help us meet our overall goal. So I think the 617 01:03:21.639 --> 01:03:25.079 support from the premiers, especially from the provinces, and as Premier Cochrane touched 618 01:03:25.119 --> 01:03:31.360 on, understanding the uniqueness of the North and having the provincial leaders from Western 619 01:03:31.440 --> 01:03:37.840 Canada stand by us and understand and support us is so important coming of these 620 01:03:37.920 --> 01:03:44.280 meetings and I just really appreciate that over the last two days. To add 621 01:03:44.440 --> 01:03:49.079 a bit as well, I think the most impacted region by climate change is 622 01:03:49.199 --> 01:03:52.800 right in the North. We see in daily as people who rely so heavily 623 01:03:52.920 --> 01:03:59.960 in terms of the ice and really the discussions that we've had were really powerful 624 01:04:00.280 --> 01:04:04.639 in terms of our ability to see nation building projects such as the Kiva de 625 01:04:04.800 --> 01:04:10.480 hydro and Fiberlink that really would allow us to be able to to get away 626 01:04:10.519 --> 01:04:15.239 from diesel. But right now there's no outside solutions that allow us to be 627 01:04:15.320 --> 01:04:19.039 able to get out of diesel as we move forward, but we do have 628 01:04:19.199 --> 01:04:25.079 the solutions, as David mentioned, in terms of solutions that really allow us 629 01:04:25.119 --> 01:04:32.440 to see nation investments really in the North and western Nuna. In particular, 630 01:04:32.679 --> 01:04:38.480 I look at the Grace Bay Road in Port as a project where really there's 631 01:04:39.159 --> 01:04:43.320 twenty two of the thirty one critical minerals that we could provide not only the 632 01:04:43.400 --> 01:04:48.880 Canadians but to the world that really would unlock these incredible resources and that would 633 01:04:48.960 --> 01:04:55.199 really create incredible jobs that tie obviously to the climate change that we see. 634 01:04:55.800 --> 01:05:00.440 So the discussions that we've seen and have had here has been really poopful from 635 01:05:00.519 --> 01:05:05.719 the lens that there's such an infrastructure deficit in the North that it's important to 636 01:05:05.840 --> 01:05:12.719 recognize that gap and for us to really play a leading role in terms of 637 01:05:12.800 --> 01:05:15.920 providing those solutions as we move forward as well in light of climate change. 638 01:05:17.480 --> 01:05:21.440 If I can just end on one thing to that as well, as stated 639 01:05:21.480 --> 01:05:27.280 the North Fields climate change four times, there's the South and I appreciate a 640 01:05:28.360 --> 01:05:31.159 premiere from Nunavut actually speaking and saying we don't have a choice many of it. 641 01:05:31.280 --> 01:05:33.760 Most of our communities, all of our communities except for a couple, 642 01:05:34.119 --> 01:05:39.800 all of Nunavuts are reliant on diesel. We don't have an option to get 643 01:05:39.840 --> 01:05:44.119 off at this point. So my point is that you can't make one policy 644 01:05:44.360 --> 01:05:46.679 to fit all of Canada. It doesn't work. The carbon tax is a 645 01:05:46.880 --> 01:05:51.400 huge example of that. It's an incentive so that people get off and use 646 01:05:51.559 --> 01:05:57.159 renewable energy. Great incentive, except when you don't have any alternative. What 647 01:05:57.280 --> 01:06:01.440 it became as a punishment to people in the or. We're experiencing climate change, 648 01:06:01.440 --> 01:06:09.400 Our animals are migrating that we don't know. Our elders don't aren't able 649 01:06:09.440 --> 01:06:13.960 to read the land anymore, our fires are we're experiencing fires in the south. 650 01:06:14.239 --> 01:06:17.039 We've got flooding in the north, We've got snow in communities. This 651 01:06:17.239 --> 01:06:23.719 is all in the last week and so one policy throughout Canada will not work. 652 01:06:23.840 --> 01:06:29.320 It's important that the federal government work with all jurisdictions to identify what we 653 01:06:29.519 --> 01:06:32.440 know we live there, so we need to have a say on what policies 654 01:06:32.480 --> 01:06:38.639 will be implemented for us. Thank you. Our next question comes from Chuck 655 01:06:38.719 --> 01:06:48.719 Chang, Canadian Press. Chuck, please go ahead. Oh, thank you 656 01:06:48.800 --> 01:06:57.880 for listening today. And I hope that that that these podcasts are actually finding 657 01:06:57.960 --> 01:07:02.079 you and that they are help helping you learn something about how what is going 658 01:07:02.119 --> 01:07:10.360 on in our world and how our country is being run and what what is 659 01:07:10.480 --> 01:07:16.039 really going on. We need to question everything until we find what truth is, 660 01:07:17.360 --> 01:07:26.079 question it and keep questioning things until we find that bottom line. We 661 01:07:26.239 --> 01:07:32.000 hope also that by sending these podcasts out into the ether world that is the 662 01:07:32.119 --> 01:07:40.039 Internet, that we're spreading a message that says we need to all listen to 663 01:07:40.159 --> 01:07:45.400 each other, talk things through, put an end to war, free up 664 01:07:45.440 --> 01:07:55.559 the information so that we all can have it and hear it, and maybe 665 01:07:55.559 --> 01:08:05.159 because a little equality in our world for future generations. Please find that subscribe 666 01:08:05.159 --> 01:08:57.680 button wherever it is so you can get continued information from us. The show 667 01:08:57.840 --> 01:09:03.960 has been produced by Depictions Media. Please contact us at depictions dot media for 668 01:09:04.159 --> 01:09:09.800 more information. H