Canada has committed to spend big for NATO, but how the money is spent is the essential question.
The U.S. announced on May 18 that it is pausing participation in the Permanent Joint Board on Defence, alleging Canada hasn’t made ‘credible’ progress on defence investments.
The problem of aged-out planes is not the only challenge for the future of the famed Air Demonstration Squadron as we await the minister’s May 19 announcement.
Why doesn’t Canada seek guidance in terms of cold weather clothing from the people who live in the Arctic year round?
In a broad ranging interview, a delegation of visiting Latvian MPs talk friendship with Canada, a continued deployment on NATO’s eastern flank, and the future of the military alliance.
The spring fiscal update also proposed $103.8-million over five years for the implementation of a stand-alone Defence Investment Agency.
Even if all of our warships were seaworthy, the RCN would be hard pressed to properly crew even half that number of ships.
DND says Canada has been explicit in telling Ukraine not to send Azov personnel on training courses, but it keeps happening without any consequences.
Ottawa must commit to concrete federal health-care transfers that prioritize health security, including permanent surge capacity and other measures, as an integral part of defence spending.
According to the DND press release, more than 80 per cent of the components used in these rifles will be produced in Canada.
There should be no mistake of the fighting spirit of either Canada or the rest of the NATO nations as we hear rhetoric from south of the border questioning the value of the alliance.
The ongoing helicopter saga demonstrates how delays, political interference, and cancellations all cost the taxpayer, and negatively affect the combat capability of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The first batch of F-35s out of Canada’s initial order of 16 is set to be delivered to a training centre in the U.S. later this year, and DND plans set out infrastructure improvements and other projects needed for the fleet.
The Air Force brass are signalling that they intend to proceed with only the F-35 even as our prime minister tries to use this deal to leverage trade negotiations with the U.S.
Canada’s participation in the U.S.-led operation has been under a microscope amid American airstrikes on alleged drug boats. Potential reductions for Operation Caribbe in the upcoming fiscal year could represent one fewer ship going to the region, says professor Adam Lajeunesse.
DND may have somehow spent nearly $20-million more buying guns in bulk from Colt Canada than they would have spent buying them individually from the manufacturer.
The German automaker ‘focuses on what makes sense for us,’ says a Volkswagen Group spokesperson, which Canadian industry leaders say is unsurprising given the ‘high stakes’ of the negotiations.
Our understrength combat units are facing a massive challenge to simply rotate trained troops through the now-permanent commitment to NATO’s northern flank.
The U.S. seems to have either no strategy or several competing ones. The principal one seems to be to bomb everything. This didn’t work in Vietnam, Afghanistan or in either the Gulf War or the Iraq War in the sense that matters most: winning the political game. Whatever happened to learning curves?
Prime Minister Mark Carney has given Canadians hope and is a savvy leader for our times, but he should be listening to his caucus, too. The Liberals who have been speaking anonymously to The Hill Times are right: attacking a sovereign nation without authorization from the UN Security Council violates international law. His MPs would have told him that.
This author has deep respect and support for both leaders and their general approach to democratic governance, but there’s an unsettling difference between the two responses to what is clearly another illegal war. Spain’s response is a courageous and inspiring stand which helps to rebuild the shattered norms of global peace and security.
The commander has put forward a plan for needed capabilities that are long overdue, but there are some missed opportunities with unit names.
This is a classic example where the government is clearly pursuing a strategy—a reset of our relationship with India—while also trying not to provoke any political backlash among voters who will be angered by such a reset. Maybe the government just doesn’t know what its plan is or how to message it.
A more restrained reaction from Mark Carney on the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran—less cheer-leading and more of the caution displayed by some European leaders—would have sat better at home.
Despite new reports Ottawa is considering splitting the contract for 12 new submarines, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee says it’s more efficient to have one supplier, but notes that the Navy does and can operate mixed fleets and would follow whatever decision the government makes.
