President Vladimir Putin says Russia plans to station but control tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus this summer, saying it would not violate nuclear non-proliferation agreements. “There is nothing unusual here,” he says. “The United States has […] long deployed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allied countries.”
Mar 17
(Globe & Mail)
An anonymous veteran federal public servant was identified today as the source for a series of internationally embarrassing disclosures about foreign interference in Canadian affairs and about seeming government indifference or reluctance to act over the years. Acknowledging the prospect of eventual prosecution if identified, the whistleblower explains the reasons for sharing concerns about an evolving threat.
Feb 19
(ALEXANDER LANDRY and CONNOR HUNERFAUTH)
All future activities in the Northwest Passage should be assessed through an Environmental, Social, and Governance lens, advise Hunerfauth and Landry as they provide an overview of key considerations.
Feb 17
(KEN POLE)
It is estimated that Ukraine is firing as many as 5,000 artillery rounds and missiles a day in its counteroffensive against Russian invaders, as much as some of its European allies manufacture in a year. That pales against more than three times as many Russian "fires" on any given day, but as Ukraine needs to ramp up its own stockpiles in preparation for a spring escalation of the conflict, Canada and other allies are having to deal with their ability to meet that need.
Mar 28
(CBC)
Defence Minister Anita Anand announced March 27 that Canada’s Operation Impact in the Middle will continue until 2025 but that the mission is being downsized. The decision enables Canada to continue supporting regional partners’ counterterrorism efforts because, Anand said, “when I visited them in December, I saw directly how their presence makes a difference.”
Mar 27
(CBC)
Public Services & Procurement Canada confirmed today that the U.S. State Department has been asked to approve the potential purchase of up to 16 Boeing P8-A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for the RCAF. “The final decision will be based on the capability offered, availability, pricing and benefits to Canadian industry,” PSPC said. In service with Australia, Britain and India as well as the U.S. Navy, it is a militarized version of the 737-800 civilian passenger jet.
Mar 25
(CBC)
Canada plans to invest $7.3 billion to upgrade fighter bases and northern landing strips to accommodate its ordered Lockheed Martin F-35s, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office announced March 24. Also confirmed during President Joe Biden’s visi to Ottawa, the government also said that the first new Over the Horizon Radar base will be in northern Ontario, part of a 20-year upgrade of continental air defences.
Mar 25
(CTV)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden used a day of talks in Ottawa March 24 to tackle a range of shared issues, including defence and security, third-country refugees, Haiti, clean energy and trade in what Trudeau said was a demonstration of how their countries’ interests are “interwoven.” Biden, on his first visit to Canada as President, agreed, saying, “I can't think of a challenge we haven’t met together.”
 Collins Aerospace |
 Logistik Unicorp |
 Beretta Defense Technologies / Stoeger Canada |
Jan 22 –
Will the issue of heavy armour support for Ukraine unite or divide the allies? Will Germany's post-WW2-guilt overpower its modern leadership role in global stability? Is a willing coalition of European neighbours enough to stiffen the German spine?
Jan 15 –
Canada has announced that the Lockheed Martin F-35 has been chosen to replace the aged CF-18s. New kit as major as this should go a long way to boosting recruitment of pilots, aircrew, and aviation technicians. It's time to quickly capitalize on this new recruitment tool.
Jan 12
Action on the Arbour Report is likely to begin soon, LGen Michel Maisonneuve and Dr Danic Parenteau provide suggestions for consideration by the different committees engaged in these changes. Read on for clarification, and more details, pursuant to comments received after publishing (Oct 2022) their five general recommendations for any review of the Canadian Military Colleges.
Jan 10 –
This procurement has been politically turbulent for both Liberal and Conservative governments over the years, but Canada has finally announced it will begin taking deliveries of its first 16 F-35 Lightning II fighters in 2026 despite protesters who call for vulnerability in the name of peace.
TBD July/Aug 2023
St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
17 January 2017
LCol Tim Arsenault has assumed command of Joint Task Force-Ukraine (JTF-U) from LCol Jason Guiney during a ceremony which took place at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Starychi, Ukraine, as part of Operation UNIFIER, Canada’s military training mission in Ukraine.
11 January 2017
To meet the current operational requirements of the Halifax Army Reserve, the construction of a new armoury at Willow Park has been announced by Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, on behalf of Defence Minister Sajjan.
5 January 2017
(The Star)
Police in Upper Big Tracadie, Nova Scotia have found Afghan veteran Lionel Desmond, his wife, mother and daughter all dead of gunshot wounds. Desmond, who served in Afghanistan with the Royal Canadian Regiment, was said by a relative to be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
23 December 2016
Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan and General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff, recently visited Canadian Armed Forces members deployed abroad for the holidays.
22 December 2016
More than 200 soldiers from 39 Combat Engineer Regiment, along with additional engineers from across Canada, will practice bridge and raft design and construction during Exercise PALADIN RESPONSE from 26 to 31 December 2016, at 3rd Canadian Division Support Group Detachment Chilliwack, British Columbia.
20 December 2016
H.E. Andrei Karlov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ankara lost his life today in an armed attack.
19 December 2016
(Kingston Whig)
In early December, after a prolonged search, the government announced the purchase of 16 Airbus C295 aircraft for the search and rescue role. Ruben Perez, an engineering professor at RMC said the Airbus aircraft's ability to spend more time in a search area was a key attribute in its selection.
15 December 2016
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan was in London, UK, today for a meeting of defence ministers from the main force contributors to the Counter-ISIL Military Coalition. The meeting followed up on the discussions held in Paris in October and set the stage for the third large Coalition Ministerial meeting to be held in Spring 2017.
14 December 2016
Three ships from China’s People’s Liberation Army (Navy) arrived in Victoria today as part of a scheduled port visit. The ships will be at anchor outside Esquimalt Harbour for the next two days after which the ships will come alongside at Ogden Point from December 15 to 19.
12 December 2016
The Government of Canada is seeking proposals from government, industry and academia in support of the DRDC Innovation Call for Proposals to fund projects under two programs: the All Domain Situational Awareness S&T Program and the Canadian Safety and Security Program. Bids are due on 11 January 2017.
9 December 2016
This weekend, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is marking its 10th year of Operation CARIBBE. Since 2006, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force have been credited with supporting the seizure or disruption of more than 66 metric tonnes of cocaine and just under four metric tonnes of marijuana.
8 December 2016
Commodore Haydn C. Edmundson of the Canadian Armed Forces officially assumed command of Combined Task Force 150.
