CATEGORIES

Although COVID-19 has had a significant impact across Canada, the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) has made significant progress in 2020. The question now, is what will the headwinds be like, in 2021 and beyond?

Instead of ‘getting on’ with a competition to replace Canada's aging fighter aircraft, a distraction in the form on "interim aircraft" was created to further delay the much-dreaded competition. And now even the Auditor General is crying foul.

The usually calm Canadian summer has been disrupted by the unfortunate penchant for political tweets.

After VAdm Mark Norman’s request for financial assistance was rejected by DND (which had somehow decided the vice-admiral was guilty before being charged), supporters have stepped up to help pay legal fees for his defence. An overview of the situation that brought Canada's highly respected Vice-Chief to the courthouse.

A former MP is revisiting the "detainee" question, suggesting Canadian soldiers committed war crimes when handing captives over to the local authorities.

Defence procurement is a dysfunctional system that includes an ever-growing continuum of approvals but has a non-accountability as its goal.

We're told that procurement has to be complicated, and that teams of lawyers are required on all sides, but let's deconstruct that notion. Thinking outside the bureaucratic box would allow us to reset the parameters for a less cumbersome, faster, and ultimately "more fair" system.

Is it surprisingly ironic, or sadly inevitable, that the Liberals have begun to reach too far in a quest for control? On 27 October 2016, in a clarification to previous wording, the Government of Canada forbade any private companies interested in work on the CSC project (primes or subs) from any form of public announcement or promotion without prior consent from Irving Shipbuilding. This dangerous first step must be reversed – entirely.

Safeguarding the Canadian way of life is the prime directive of government. Are politicians taking steps to ensure Canadians understand the issues that can affect their future security?

The Liberal Government has chosen to step back and make real change rather than incremental adjustments that tend to bog down the system with numerous workarounds...

Based on Prime Minister Trudeau’s clear mandates to his new Cabinet ministers, the government is clearly ready to think outside the box when it comes to Defence Procurement.

Does quality and integrity in journalism matter? Do trade publications do enough to advocate for constructive change with informed commentary? Does the defence and security industry do enough to support the right effort?

While the Loyal Opposition was established to hold the ruling government to account through constructive and responsible interrogation in the House. A more current definition (found on ask.com) describes the Loyal Opposition as “a group of dissenters who seek to disrupt the programs of the party in charge.” The question now, is who cares what the people want?

Canada’s air strikes are having the intended disruptive effect. The big question going forward is: will the peaceful Muslim community respond in unity against the so-called “Islamic State”?

Canned media releases and prepared statements are making true journalism more and more difficult.

Change is in the wind. Although no one knows exactly how this will play out, defence and aerospace industry leaders welcome the new initiatives, hoping they will bring positive change.

Advice from a 101 year old Cameron Highlander.

Should Canada make defence decisions based on the military’s perceived requirements, or should key national interests dictate what the military needs?

Focus on the need for a robust system to challenge requirements specifications and the need to make defendable discretionary decisions to stay on track.

Clear policies and strong strategies are the critical links that are repeatedly called for by so many in the defence communities.

We’ve already established that Canada’s defence procurement process is painful, but why is that so?

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter," said Martin Luther King Jr., a strong leader during a tumultuous time.

Now that it has a majority, will the federal government relax a bit or tighten its grip on what they like to call “communication” but what is actually “control of information”?

The Conservative government has its well-deserved majority.

Defence requirements never seem to lessen

Can we truly justify sovereignty claims of our Northern lands simply through a few joint exercises held up there during the more ­hospitable months of the year? The simple answer is no.

Three people from different ­backgrounds tackle the topic from widely different perspectives.

FrontLine articles provide a wide-ranging selection of topics related to space, satellites and research.

Canada’s Minister of National Defence, Peter MacKay, briefs readers on the Canada First Defence Strategy.

Many new names have joined the ranks of FrontLine contributors.

Communicating with the public is increasingly being seen as an essential (and inevitable) aspect of maintaining public support for Canada's dangerous missions. Both CF and government leaders have repeatedly stated the need to rally support for the young Canadian men and women who are presently in harms way…