“I’ll be blunt: after 80 long years, we need to bring back conscription — and fast. “But I’m not in love with the idea.” @crof.bsky.social writes. - ThreadSky

thetyee.ca • 2 days ago

“I’ll be blunt: after 80 long years, we need to bring back conscription — and fast.

“But I’m not in love with the idea.” @crof.bsky.social writes.

Comments

deadward.bsky.social•10 hours ago

Average BC progressive

g-a-jaxon.bsky.social•2 days ago

Parents sending their kids to war to fix what they broke.

Shocking.

gearpunkv.bsky.social•2 days ago

Free college is 100% better use of the money this would consume. We would dramatically escalate our graduate numbers and solve national needs. Military service would be a waste of years of youthful employment and weaken our national employment needs.

aoilainn.bsky.social•2 days ago

So gross.

marxistworkware.bsky.social•2 days ago

Rather than just posting a, justified, screed against the idea of conscription, the problem isn't that we don't have enough people in the military, it's that the Canadian military is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US military-industrial complex. Almost all our weapons systems are American.

marxistworkware.bsky.social•2 days ago

For example, the PM ordered a review of the F35 purchase, and the RCAF won't proceed (citing concerns over "scope"), because they are so committed to US systems. Another example, Charles Bouchard, who destroyed Libya for Clinton and NATO, went directly from that bloodletting to Lockheed Martin.

marxistworkware.bsky.social•2 days ago

Another example, we just created a military alliance with Philippines, whose current leader was an active participant in his Dictator father's fascist government, in order to support US "interests" in the South China Sea (read: threatening China 11000 kms from our shore).

marxistworkware.bsky.social•2 days ago

The examples are endless, but beyond this, almost *certainly* the NSA has penetrated every single Canadian military system, with us having such close ties. And after all that, any military "deterrence" the Canadian forces could muster wouldn't matter, b/c the US controls NORAD.

marxistworkware.bsky.social•2 days ago

So we would have no air or missile defences, making our standing army cannon fodder. Just go ask the Iraqis how it feels when the US has complete air superiority. Finally, most of our officers are *trained in the US*, which makes our military susceptible to becoming a fifth column.

marxistworkware.bsky.social•2 days ago

Ask Indonesians what happens when all of your military officers are trained in the US. I could go on, and I'm not anywhere close to an expert, but this article is deeply unserious about the reality of our military situation vis a vis the US.

absolutely-not.bsky.social•2 days ago

i'll be blunt: i think we should conscript the elderly so it better aligns with the euthanasia effort.

peeete.bsky.social•2 days ago

Lmao no

spamps.bsky.social•12 hours ago

Lol

im-mark-aylward.bsky.social•2 days ago

There are those are dead against it, or (reluctantly) know we need a solution to our sovereignty. Nov 11 is a few months away and in light of the shadow of the USA, identical to the shadow of Russia to the Baltic states, WE ALL should truly reflect on where OUR conviction for freedom lies.

im-mark-aylward.bsky.social•2 days ago

And to be perfectly clear, "conscription" is something I could only agree with in time of actual war.

abysswatchr.bsky.social•2 days ago

Good lord man, Remembrance Day is more than half a year away

matrraka.bsky.social•2 days ago

This bitch would rather push the young out rather than directly address the root of the massive problem this world faces right now!?

Tyee contributing editor Crawford Kilian served as a draftee in the U.S. army, 1963-65.

“A well-trained, well-equipped military would give our diplomats extra clout”

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•11 hours ago

Textbook "I suffered so you must suffer as well."

doogie2k.bsky.social•12 hours ago

Hey this sucks

This fucking sucks

abysswatchr.bsky.social•2 days ago

It's ok everyone, we'll actually be HAPPIER if we and our kids all get drafted 🙃

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•11 hours ago

I'm sure it has nothing to do with better workers' rights, healthcare, education, and cost of living. It must be the military. The children yearn for the battlefield!

spikeghost.bsky.social•12 hours ago

The author should join the army first.

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•11 hours ago

This is a genuinely disgusting thing to publish. Instant unfollow, never reading anything published from the Tyee again. Which is depressing as I considered it one of the best sources up until literally two minutes ago when I finished reading this nightmare-fuel fascist apologism.

askpippa.bsky.social•2 days ago

Then there's this other idea. Could #Canada benefit from a civil #defense corps? Something many European countries do. As well as first aid, emergency responses, etc., it can also get people more involved in communities, help fight disinformation and #cybersecurity risks. https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025/03/05/Canada-Needs-New-Civil-Defence-Corps/

petertron.bsky.social•2 days ago

Hey fuck this shit.

dangerousdan.bsky.social•2 days ago

I agree. How else can we expect to train future red guards to overthrow the bourgeoisie?

imeating.bsky.social•2 days ago

No.

scottb.bsky.social•2 days ago

Beyond despicable decision to publish this nationalistic tripe. Conscription into the military forces of a settler-colonial state responsible for and actively facilitating multiple ongoing genocides? Immediately lost all respect I had for the Tyee.

sophieleon.bsky.social•2 days ago

The Finns have lived next door to a brutal bully and have thrived, we need to learn from them. Conscription will be a shock but I agree and think we need to prepare.

shanathalas.bsky.social•2 days ago

I don’t agree conscription is the answer but he’s right about Canada not being in military shape to defend itself. We’ve always had a big brother to defend us from an aggressor, but now that big brother is the aggressor. We can’t just bury our heads in the sand

steelrabbit.bsky.social•2 days ago

Sure, our kids will be incinerated by a $3m missile fired from a drone piloted by their peer in Langley, but so long as our property values don’t dip, I think this is a win!

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•11 hours ago

For a hot second I was wondering why someone in the Lower Mainland would fire on Canadians.

barrysauce.bsky.social•10 hours ago

The author can enlist whenever they want 👍

barrhavenist.bsky.social•2 days ago

@crof.bsky.social Time to hang up the skates bud

barrhavenist.bsky.social•2 days ago

OK BOOMER

js-atkins.bsky.social•2 days ago

No.

publicwrx.bsky.social•1 day ago

Go fuck yourself.

espie.bsky.social•12 hours ago

lol naw

prefers-not.bsky.social•12 hours ago

Shut the fuck up

mattaklap.bsky.social•10 hours ago

Tyee, I am begging you to suck less, this level of suck is a choice you don't have to make

indjustice.bsky.social•2 days ago

"Come on, kids, sign up for the Sexual Assault Factory Canadian Forces so you can die on Day 1 to US drone strikes! We'll pay for your education at those Universities we're bankrupting to fund the Canadian Human Shield Corps!"

winderwinder.bsky.social•10 hours ago

How about guérilla training instead.

devindignam.bsky.social•2 days ago

"I, an 84-year old man, give forcing the 7000000 Canadians between the ages of 18-30 into military service 2 out of 3 cheers.

The 84-year-old and 'man' parts of me approve, but the human part of me has a few qualms."

khobi.bsky.social•16 hours ago

Agreed. I’m in my 50s. I’d rather do this than have my children do it.

kootenaymarxist.bsky.social•1 day ago

Why does @crof.bsky.social want to have young people killed?

crof.bsky.social•1 day ago

🤔

susankiddie.bsky.social•2 days ago

Rage bait.

eikonos.bsky.social•2 days ago

Perhaps if we only conscript landlords, because everyone else is busy working.

cogworth.bsky.social•2 days ago

I see his point. This would be different than what we think of with conscription. What we're talking about is mandatory service. A period of 2-5yrs. If this period was at the end of high school they would not even see true service. All it would be is training in health and exercise and education.

cogworth.bsky.social•2 days ago

The initial contract for CF members already looks much like this. IE's are usually 3-5years and most of that time is spent in the training cycle.

dogpaws42.bsky.social•2 days ago

Heh. I first read it as "constipation".

curtistired.bsky.social•10 hours ago

Dogshit

discordantmuse.bsky.social•2 days ago

Hahahah, I'll be more blunt.

Get fucked. Really and truly, fuck all the way off until you can't fuck off anymore. 🖕🏼

getradified.net•12 hours ago

lol this sucks

munsulight.bsky.social•2 days ago

Nothing at all about the problem in the military like the blatant mysoginy and sexual assault happening in the higher ranks

No one wants to be forced to do something

southpawboomer61.bsky.social•2 days ago

My knee jerk reaction was "Hell no!" And it still is to conscription. But let's be honest, we're woefully inadequate to successfully defend our sovereignty. 🇨🇦 needs to step up our recruitment game. Promote free tuition, make the reserves more attractive. It's a discussion we need to have.

candaceshaw.bsky.social•2 days ago

A standing military is a relic of the 20th century and earlier. The most powerful military on earth could invade, but there's no way they could hold any part of this country for long.

abysswatchr.bsky.social•2 days ago

Says the boomer

g--0.bsky.social•2 days ago

i support conscription for Canadians between the ages of 65 and 90

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•10 hours ago

@crof.bsky.social can lead the charge!

crof.bsky.social•10 hours ago

Given my current walking speed, it would be a mighty slow charge.

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•8 hours ago

Then maybe don't tell young people to go kill themselves, capiche? I have a job to do. And coincidentally, my job is to raise young people. But I guess education isn't important when you can have people carrying guns!

devindignam.bsky.social•8 hours ago

indjustice.bsky.social•2 days ago

It's weird how no one with the "build up the CAF against American aggression" argument seems to be able to tell us at what number of troops and billions spent we will be any safe against a country who could wipe out half our population in a week.

wuhanclams.bsky.social•2 days ago

Good idea, that way we'll only have to feed poor people into the meat grinder.

hawkbox.bsky.social•2 days ago

Fucking chicken hawks.

beachedkwhale.bsky.social•2 days ago

Conscription is a prettier word for enslavement. People are either free or they are not, and conscription removes their autonomy, compelling them into actions they haven't chosen or find abhorrent.
The government needs to fix the issues with equipment, pay, vet services. Support the ones we have.

zuuldaffs-pizzeria.bsky.social•11 hours ago

Had been following @crof.bsky.social here on bsky previously. Not anymore.

This is insane shit. Not going to happen in the current political environment, but having leftist/liberal types try to normalize the idea only helps the Nazis.

thesaanichdaily.bsky.social•2 days ago

Why on earth would the Tyee even publish this?

edrybicki.bsky.social•9 hours ago

You really did poke the hornet’s nest, didn’t you? But the concept of compulsory National Service is something most Europeans have lived with for decades - and which the Swiss take for granted, to the extent that they do weapons training in other countries if the live there.

janenodough.bsky.social•2 days ago

I know it's not my place as a non-Canadian but I have to say I doubt a draft would be necessary. I think if the question was put to the Canadian people right now, "Who wants to volunteer for possible invasion preparedness?" you'd have a substantial army in a day.

zzmid.bsky.social•2 days ago

This is actually disgusting.

johncampey.bsky.social•2 days ago

Sexist, ageist … if you are going to bring back conscription, make it for ALL adults….

nancym1.bsky.social•2 days ago

Conscription has been the death of governments in Canada. Toxically unpopular.

shannonpeel.bsky.social•2 days ago

Can’t see that going over well

If there is a real threat - I believe many will join

ragsmusic.bsky.social•10 hours ago

Doesn’t get more suck-ass than this.

riivers1.bsky.social•2 days ago

porkpie.ca•2 days ago

44chris44.bsky.social•2 days ago

The military has extensive education opportunities already. Both in trades and higher education. They should be advertising better. Not sure how you believe we could one sex differently. They could certainly have a far larger reserve and offer more carrots. Mandatory is a political no go.

wuhanclams.bsky.social•2 days ago

Fucking psycho.

netmojo.ca•2 days ago

The Fins seem to be doing OK with it.

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•11 hours ago

The Fins are also happy with better workers' rights, more equitable cost of housing and living, better environmental policy, more guaranteed time off... Should I go on?

netmojo.ca•5 hours ago

And they have 5 nuclear reactors, providing abundant power. They’re an impressive society to be sure.

nocreamnosugar.bsky.social•2 days ago

You can always join the military. Look around the right age. Feel free!

markusmilner.bsky.social•2 days ago

I’d prefer mandatory national service, which is common in many countries, rather than old-school conscription.

sv-rub-a-dub.bsky.social•11 hours ago

How about none? We don't need to learn how to be murderers.

carrier-wave.bsky.social•2 days ago

themeaningofliff.bsky.social•2 days ago

Written by an 80 year old dude who lived through the most peaceful time in Canadian history and he's foaming at the mouth in one day to enslave kids to fight a war Canada would loose in and die so he can continue to enjoy his retirement.

It totally sounds like your in love with the idea.

g--0.bsky.social•2 days ago

crawford thinks a war against the US would look exactly like vimy ridge.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply