Canadian Armed Forces personnel and equipment were mobilized today to help the Northwest Territories’ response wildfires threatening several communities, including the capital. The City of Yellowknife declared a state of local emergency late August 14. [node:read-more:link]
As of June 6, a total 424 wildfires were burning across Canada, more than 250 of which are considered out of control. This is according to a briefing by seven federal cabinet ministers who said the current fire situation, being fought by civilian and military responders, is one of the most severe on record and that the long-range forecast is for continued abnormal fire activity. [node:read-more:link]
At the request of the Alberta government, some 200 Canadian Armed Forces personnel have been deployed to help fight wildfires. An additional 100 are expected to join in over the weekend. [node:read-more:link]
Five years after Canada contracted with South Carolina-based Jankel Tactical Systems to buy 76 armoured Toyota Land Cruisers for its diplomatic missions at a unit cost of $261,622, less than half have been delivered. The Public Services & Procurement and Global Affairs departments are saying only that they are “working with the supplier […] to schedule delivery of vehicles as needed.” [node:read-more:link]
Unable to deal with widespread gang violence through conventional policing, the government of El Salvador deployed some 10,000 troops to surround the city of Soyapango December 3 as part of a massive crackdown. President Nayib Bukele said “extraction teams from the police and the army are tasked with extricating all the gang members still there one by one.” [node:read-more:link]
Even as his own government continues to violently suppress growing public protests, including sentencing some protesters to death, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi today lauded his country as a champion of rights and freedoms and the rule of law. “Iran has the most progressive constitution in the world,” he said at one point during a speech, insisting that it “guarantees fundamental rights and legitimate freedoms.” [node:read-more:link]
A report today from the Office of the Auditor General says that Canada lacks a complete picture of who is entering or traversing Arctic waters, partly due to the fact that a naval surveillance station can only operate four weeks a year. Overall, it says, the country cannot stay on top of threats to national security, illegal fishing or pollution posed by marine traffic which has tripled in recent years as sea ice diminishes. [node:read-more:link]
The Conservatives’ long-time national defence critic, Manitoba MP James Bezan, has been reconfirmed in that role by the party leader Pierre Poilievre. The October 12 “shadow cabinet” lineup also includes Saskatchewan MP Kelly Block, a 24-year parliamentary veteran, as the critic for Public Services & Procurement Canada, while Canadian Coast Guard issues will be handled by freshman Newfoundland & Labrador MP Clifford Small. Michael Chong, an Ontario MP who was briefly a cabinet member as Privy Council President in 2006, is the critic for foreign affairs. [node:read-more:link]
The Canadian Armed Forces are supposed to be the “last resort” in dealing with domestic crisess but former National Security Advisor Richard Fadden said October 5 they too often become the “first” or even “only” resort for provincial governments. He told a parliamentary committee parliamentary committee that responding to requests for help at home distract the military from its broader mission. “It is becoming too easy for . . . [node:read-more:link]
The federal government has approved requests from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador for more assistance in dealing with the aftermath of the storm which ravaged the region a week ago. The Canadian Armed Forces, Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada are helping to remove debris and providing aerial imagery and mapping data as well as supporting roadworks. [node:read-more:link]
Canadian Armed forces personnel are deployed to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador to help with the aftermath of post-tropical storm Fiona which ravaged the region on the weekend. the commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic, Rear Admiral Brian Santarpia, said the help had been requested by the three provincial governments [node:read-more:link]
Promises to keep and miles to go. The long and often frustrating overhaul of Canada’s military justice system continues. Even with the recent implementation of Bill C-77 (a package of amendments to the National Defence Act intended to protect vulnerable witnesses within the military justice system), the road ahead is long. [node:read-more:link]
The U.S. House or Representatives has approved an amendment to its latest defence spending bill which could compel the Defense and Homeland Security departments to report on instances of white supremacy and neo-Nazi activity in uniformed services and federal law enforcement. [node:read-more:link]
The expansion of NATO's rapid reaction force marks a new phase of its response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and is intended to send a stronger message of deterrence to Russia. [node:read-more:link]
Following recent complaints by Canada and Australia that Chinese warplanes engaged in risky manoeuvres with their patrol aircraft over the Pacific, China defended its military pilots today, saying they acted properly and were protecting its sovereignty. Last week, the Canadian military accused Chinese planes of not following international safety norms and putting a Canadian crew at risk on several occasions. [node:read-more:link]
