On the eve of last week’s Canadian defence policy update, there were rumours of a major announcement coming — maybe a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines to patrol the increasingly militarized Arctic, or initiatives that would result in Canada living up to its NATO commitments to spend two per cent of its GDP on defence.

Neither came to pass.

Today in The Conversation Canada, Paul T. Mitchell of Canadian Forces College writes about the disappointing update, pointing out how it seems to continue a longstanding Canadian philosophy on defence known as the “fire-proof house” mentality. In short, Canada spends little on defence due to its close proximity to a superpower and the fact that it has vast oceans bordering it to the east, west and north.

The 20-year timeline of the new defence policy, and the fact that several proposed investments will merely be “explored,” raise serious questions about Canada’s pledge to pull its weight in NATO, he argues.

“The notion that bad things only happen elsewhere is at the heart of a lackadaisical and feckless approach to threats that are building daily around the world — and is evident in a vague policy update that won’t see the culmination of its objectives until long into the future,” he writes.

Also today:

• Journalism students see an industry in crisis. It’s time to talk about it
• Obstetric and gynecological violence: Empowering patients to recognize and prevent it
• How self-compassion can help activists deal with stress
• Space exploration is not a luxury, it’s a necessity

All the best.