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 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.”
Mar 23
(CBC)
The Department of National Defence is facing pushback against a new program it says will help personnel to deal with housing costs. DND estimates that rationalizing the benefit will mean that some 7,700 personnel who have been receiving a monthly allowance will be cut off. Brigadier-General Virginia Tattersall, head of compensation and benefits, says that more members overall will be supported and while she is “sympathetic” to those who lose the allowance, they either “are able to afford” housing or live in protected base housing.
 Cleeve Technology Inc. |
 Beretta Defense Technologies / Stoeger Canada |
 Collins Aerospace |
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
23 February 2016
Judy Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, announced that retired Rear-Admiral (Royal Navy) Steve Brunton has been selected as the “expert advisor” to assist the government on the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.
23 February 2016
For the world to acknowledge that “Canada is back,” we need to put our money where our mouth is, says Colin Robertson in The Globe and Mail.
23 February 2016
The new commander of the Operation REASSURANCE Land Task Force, Major Éric Beauchamp, assumed command from Major Simon Côté in Warsaw, Poland, last week.
22 February 2016
Women in Defence and Security Canada (WiDS) invites you to the 2016 WiDS Memorial Scholarship Awards Ceremony held on March 8th. Join us as we award scholarships to two deserving Canadian women pursuing studies in defence and security.
18 February 2016
FrontLine publisher and editor Chris MacLean last week received the 2015 Ross Munro Media Award at the CDAI's 2016 Conference on Security and Defence in Ottawa.
16 February 2016
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is actively taking steps to integrate gender perspectives into the analysis, planning, execution and evaluation of all CAF operations.
16 February 2016
Registration for the 2016 Canada Army Run, presented by BMO Bank of Montreal, is now open! The 5K and half marathon events will take place on Sunday, September 18, 2016.
15 February 2016
Members of 103 Search and Rescue Squadron from 9 Wing Gander, Newfoundland, are returning home after training with the Icelandic Coast Guard and local Search and Rescue teams from February 9-12, 2016.
12 February 2016
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan attended his first NATO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on February 10th to 11th, at NATO Headquarters in Brussels and then participated in a meeting of defence ministers from countries contributing to the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
11 February 2016
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan confirmed today that all Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed to “advise and assist” Iraqi security forces in the NATO-led Operation Impact will be able to respond “in kind” if they are attacked by so-called Islamic State fighters.
9 February 2016
About 2,500 Canadian Army soldiers from the Regular Force, Primary Reserve and the Canadian Rangers, will be training until March in several areas of Canada’s North. The Canadian Army aims to maintain and sharpen its operational capabilities in austere Arctic environments.
8 February 2016
The Royal Australian Navy commissioned HMAS Adelaide, its second Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship, a sister ship to HMAS Canberra. These 230-meter-long sips are the largest vessels ever built for the RAN.
