Am I Allowed a Rant?

Well, if you’ll indulge me, I have a couple of things to beat the drums on.

The First is Water Bombers.  Apparently during WWII Canada built 1 Lancaster bomber a day as part of its war effort.  Let’s muster the same sort of urgency and commitment to fight our national forest fire threat!

It is certainly not my idea, but think of the job creation and fire defense capability we would have if there were a NATIONAL fleet of say, 500, water bombers that could be deployed anywhere in Canada.  Currently we have about 4000 active fires, and I doubt if there are 75 water bombers in the entire country.  Also, along with great jobs, what an incredible export market this would create.

Many fires are in remote locations and are very difficult to access on the ground. These planes could get there quicker, and safer, with less manpower and also be more effective. A water bomber, being able to fly low and slow, is also suitable for Search and Rescue.

I believe we do have a couple of Canadian Manufacturers, eg Bombardier and De Haviland, but they need supercharging in terms of production.  We have the technology, but we need the national commitment!

The Second is Potable Water in Remote Communities.  It seems a national disgrace that we have so many remote communities having to boil their water year after year after year.

I would like to see a nationally funded development of a modular water treatment plant that could be airlifted and assembled in any community with, say, more than 500 people, that has a sufficient water supply source that can be made potable by conventional means.  These plants once installed, would be monitored and controlled remotely by a central command, likely one in each province and territory.

Our Engineering firms and Universities could be challenged (and rewarded) for engaging in a design competition for such a system.

Such an approach is currently being used with wind turbines, in that they are monitored and controlled by a central command that may not even be in the operating country.

Maybe there is something like this underway for Water Treatment Plants, but I am not aware of anything.