Prime minister Mark Carney was in Trenton yesterday to meet with members of the military, and then announced the specifics on the previously promised raises. They’re concentrated at the lower ranks, with a 20 percent boost to recruits, and the levels of increases decrease the higher in rank one gets, owing to the fact that they already have higher salaries. There are other bonuses being enriched, including for specific trades that they are most in need of, though as The Logic reported earlier this year, signing bonuses in those needed trades hasn’t really worked so far. Maybe with higher bonuses? Of course, the money doesn’t address some of the other problems, like the moving across the country every couple of years, which creates problems with retention, but we’ll see if those kinds of internal reforms are in the works.

The other stuff also makes sense: bonuses for being relocated again and again, more money for those who have had to deal with environmental stress–bad weather such as on ship during storms or arctic. My fave, other than more $ for everyone, is essentially combat pay for domestic ops.

— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman.bsky.social) 2025-08-08T18:32:47.488Z

Another notable aspect: extra pay for those becoming instructors at various training positions. I am pretty sure this is the first time this has been incentivized. Before, I am pretty sure the regiments were sending their worst just as they did with recruiting. Not great for recruitment but

— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman.bsky.social) 2025-08-08T18:43:53.849Z

that has changed as well.Some of these changes are wildly overdue. Others are possible in a friendlier fiscal environment, which it is now for defence and nothing else.and ….

— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman.bsky.social) 2025-08-08T18:44:59.312Z

And this point also should be made:

Someone asked in the briefing to experts this morning if this makes defense competitive with the rest of govt. I wanted to shout: defence is the only part of the Canadian govt that has jobs. Everything else is being cut to pay for this.

— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman.bsky.social) 2025-08-08T18:45:39.580Z

Ukraine Dispatch

Canada is joining with allies in lowering the price cap on Russian oil to further strangle their economy.

Good reads:

• Mark Carney denounced Israel’s plan to take over Gaza City, saying it will make things worse for civilians and the remaining hostages.
• Fisheries and Oceans had an observer aboard an OceanGate Titan submersible trip off of the coast of Newfoundland to evaluate if they wanted to pursue a deal.
• Hateful conduct reports in the military spiked last year after years of attempting culture change (and “anti-woke” retired generals share the blame in this).
• The US has once again increased countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber, bringing them to 35.19 percent.
• The US State Department has approved a $22 million purchase by Canada of light off-road troop transports (which apparently we can’t source from Canada).
• Here’s a look at some of the bad blood that developed in Canada’s relationship with Mexico (thanks, Doug Ford!), that Carney has been trying to salvage recently.
• Here’s a deeper look into Indigenous protest to project fast-track legislation.
• Congressional Republicans are now targeting Canada’s Online Streaming Act as a “threat to trade.” (The correct response to them is “Fuck off.”)
• Jenni Byrne was on a podcast to say that she won’t run the next Conservative campaign but she will still hang around to give advice.
• Advance polls are open this weekend in the Battle River—Crowfoot by-election.
• The Alberta government is planning on appealing the temporary injunction against their anti-trans legislation rather than waiting for the full court hearing.
• Cowichan tribes on Vancouver Island have won back fishing rights and title for part of the Lower Mainland in a court decision.
• The Bulwark spoke with Andry Hernández Romero, who was kidnapped and sent to CECOT in El Salvador, and he speaks of his experiences and his recovery.
• Justin Ling suggests that it’s time for Carney to drop the optimistic tone and just stop trying to negotiate a trade deal with a bad actor who won’t respect it.
• Anne Applebaum reiterates that a land deal won’t end the war in Ukraine, because Putin has never stated that is his end goal.

Odds and ends:

For National Magazine, I take a look into the revived Law Commission of Canada, which has just celebrated its second birthday.

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