Raise the Hammer

"You don't think it's wrong to profit from war and imperialism? In broad terms you don't see a problem with the military-industrial complex? "

Seriously?

As someone who works in the Canadian aerospace industry let me tell you, if there is a "military industrial complex" in this country, Canadian aircraft manufacturers aren't allowed in. Nearly all of our current military aircraft have been purchased from other countries (i.e. the United States). This nation hasn't created an offencive military aircraft since the Arrow. Even the Canadian branches of American aerospace companies don't provide critical military parts. (Pratt and Whitney's plant in Mississauga makes engines for examples, except they don't make the crucial turbine or fan blades because the production of those are deemed too sensitive by the US government to be made outside the US.)

As for Bombardier, their military division was sold off 6 years ago to Spar Aerospace (now MDA Aerospace) as part of its recapitalization plan. Currently their only military services are converting their civilian planes to unarmed transports, trainers, and patrol craft, as well as providing flight training services to new pilots. I for one would love to see Bombardier trains through this city, the new ones the TTC ordered are light-years better than the old trains.

Now here comes a somewhat off topic rant, feel free to skip if you'd like...

Yes the aerospace industry has its dark side, but its also done a lot of good, (water bombers for forest fires, air mail, satellite communication, GPS, and also a huge boost to the environmental movement once regular people saw how small and fragile the planet looks from space), and unlike the auto industry, every generation of aircraft is more efficient than the last, even the largest modern planes practically sip fuel (on a per passenger basis) compared to the earliest models.

Bayer made poison gas for the Nazis, IBM sold them computers (or at least what passed for a computer at that time), does that mean we shouldn't use Aspirin or IBM products? Not to mention the fact that almost every modern car maker was making military products of some sort during the two world wars. I'm no war monger but I absolutely take exception to the statement that this nation profited from "war and imperialism", and the idea that we should pass on supporting a strong Canadian business for a product this city needs because they accept military contracts, especially when those contracts are limited to non-combatant roles.

Okay rant's done...