A major maritime patrol requirement was slowly progressing through the Definition phase, potentially heading toward Implementation, and most insiders believed there was only one real contender to replace the 40-year-old Aurora aircraft. Could Canada's Bombardier muscle in on a major defence procurement without a working prototype? Why not? It's been tried before, but with decidedly limited success.
Nov 08
(TIM DUNNE)
In 2019, Bill C-77 received Royal Assent to remove detention from the list of punishments that can be awarded in the Canadian military, but the practice continues due in part to JAG delay, forcing the Canadian Forces Detention Barracks and Service Prison to continue to be staffed – at a cost to the Canadian taxpayer of $2.2 million each year.
Oct 13
(CBC)
Major-General Dany Fortin has reached an undisclosed settlement in his $6-million lawsuit against the government and the Chief of the Defence Staff over his abrupt dismissal from running the government’s coronavirus vaccination program in May 2021.Under investigation at the time for an alleged assault while a student in 1988, he was acquitted last December.
Sep 14
(ALAN WILLIAMS)
Former ADM (materiel), Alan Williams, takes a critical look at the Canadian Surface Combatant procurement from the taxpayer's perspective. Comparing costs and quotes on similar projects from other countries, he finds that Canadian taxpayers are paying 2-3 times more for the CSC ships under the project management of Irving Shipbuilding.
Nov 27
(Ken Pole)
Echoing a call by a former Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the House of Commons defence committee has recommended that the government revisit a plan to sole-source new surveillance aircraft.
Nov 26
(CP)
A coronavirus outbreak aboard HMCS Harry DeWolf has forced the Navy to cut short its publicity tour of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway and return it to its Halifax homeport.
Nov 24
(CP)
Defence Minister Bill Blair is “absolutely committed” to ensuring that government spending cuts will not affect his uniformed personnel, pointing out that despite recruitment shortfalls, they are being tasked to do more at home and abroad. “This support doesn't come without a cost,” he pointed out to a parliamentary committee November 23.
Nov 23
(Ken Pole)
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s recent disclosure that the alliance is considering an increased presence in the Western Balkans was followed almost immediately by Albania’s call for support and while Canada maintains a small presence there, a possible increase isn’t yet in the cards.
 Cleeve Technology Inc. |
 Collins Aerospace |
 Beretta Defense Technologies / Stoeger Canada |
22 November 2023 –
A major maritime patrol requirement was slowly progressing through the Definition phase, potentially heading toward Implementation, and most insiders believed there was only one real contender to replace the 40-year-old Aurora aircraft. Could Canada's Bombardier muscle in on a major defence procurement without a working prototype? Why not? It's been tried before, but with decidedly limited success.
8 November 2023 –
In 2019, Bill C-77 received Royal Assent to remove detention from the list of punishments that can be awarded in the Canadian military, but the practice continues due in part to JAG delay, forcing the Canadian Forces Detention Barracks and Service Prison to continue to be staffed – at a cost to the Canadian taxpayer of $2.2 million each year.
18 June 2023 –
Politicians, scholars and commentators have sought to explain or justify the apparent delinquency in Canada’s defence effort over the years. It remains unclear whether or how much the promised new defence policy update will address the matter of NATO's 2% minimum defence spending commitment.
18 June 2023 –
Former head of defence procurement at Canada's Department of National Defence, made the following remarks at the Standing Committee of National Defence hearing on 16 June 2023. He says the capital costs of Canada’s new fighter jets and surface combatant ships will exceed $100 billion dollars over a 10-year period, and could effectively bankrupt the Canadian Armed Forces unless new monies are injected.
28 November 2023
(Defence News)
Florida-based L3Harris Technologies, which has a long-standing relationship supplying surveillance technology to the Canadian military, announced November 27 that it will sell its commercial aviation business to a New York private-equity firm. Contingent on regulatory approval, it would enable the company to focus more on national security and technology while paying down debt.
28 November 2023
(Defense One)
A year into efforts to boost production of 155mm artillery rounds for Ukraine, the U.S. and EU states are seeing radically different results. U.S. output has increased faster than forecast while European output has been slowed by the consensus-focused nature of NATO and the EU.
28 November 2023
(Reuters)
Iran’s deputy defence minister, Mehdi Farahi, said today that his country has finalised negotiations for delivery of Russian Su-35 fighters, Yak-130 jet trainers and Mi-28 attack helicopters.
27 November 2023
(Defense News)
A planned $5-billion RCAF procurement of General Atomics MQ-9B Reaper armed drones for Arctic deployment has been delayed until at least 2028. DND cites a need for “significant development work” on links to aerial and orbital communications as well as training
26 November 2023
(CP)
A coronavirus outbreak aboard HMCS Harry DeWolf has forced the Navy to cut short its publicity tour of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway and return it to its Halifax homeport.
26 November 2023
(CBC)
The Bill of Rights guarantee that accused persons must be tried within a reasonable time frame resulted in a civilian judge recent termination of two trials of military personnel. In each case, the judge said the Department of National Defence had been unreasonably slow in cooperating but Colonel Vanessa Hanrahan, the Deputy Canadian Forces Provost Marshal has disputed the observation.
24 November 2023
(EuroNews)
Irish Defence Minister Micheál Martin, who doubles as deputy prime minister, has told his parliament that he wants to reform his country’s “triple lock” neutrality policy on deploying troops abroad. Any such proposals require explicit consent from his government, the parliament and the UN Security Council.
24 November 2023
(Breaking Defense)
Stalled talks between Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Department of Defense about a new F-35 sustainment program have prompted the DoD to consider a temporary fix through to at least the end of 2024. “That’s just to ensure that we have the necessary framework and support in place to sustain currently fielded F-35s and operations globally,” says Assistant Secretary of Defense Christopher Lowman.
24 November 2023
(Ottawa Citizen)
The federal government has postponed the unveiling of a $7.5-million Victims of Communism monument in Ottawa after it was pointed out that it did not include, among other things, a key Korean War battle involving Canadian troops.
24 November 2023
(CP)
Defence Minister Bill Blair is “absolutely committed” to ensuring that government spending cuts will not affect his uniformed personnel, pointing out that despite recruitment shortfalls, they are being tasked to do more at home and abroad. “This support doesn't come without a cost,” he pointed out to a parliamentary committee November 23.
