Conservative senators are throwing in the towel over a planned investigation into the failed prosecution of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman.
IN THE NEWS
IN THE NEWS
Jun 17, 2019
The Senate’s defence committee will finally get an answer on Monday over whether Vice-Admiral Mark Norman will agree to testify over the circumstances around his controversial prosecution. But it may be too late.
Jun 14, 2019
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had blamed Iran for the "unprovoked attacks" on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, and Iran has rebuffed that accusation, affirming its responsibility for security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Jun 14, 2019
Lawmakers on Wednesday grilled a State Department official over President Donald Trump’s decision to sell arms to Saudi Arabia without congressional review, with the top Democrat on the House panel describing the move as a “slap in the face” and Republicans also voicing objections.
Jun 14, 2019
Russian forces have trialled new electronic warfare (EW) tactics designed for comprehensive protection against air assets such as cruise missiles, airborne radars, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 10 June.
Jun 14, 2019
Victoria council dropped its plan Thursday to seek federal funds to cover Remembrance Day ceremony costs, deciding apologies to veterans and those currently serving in Canada's Armed Forces were in order.
Jun 14, 2019
The Canadian government is poised to spend more than half a billion dollars on new anti-submarine torpedoes after the U.S. State Department approved the deal last month.
Jun 14, 2019
The head of Canada’s anti-hate network is questioning why the Canadian Forces is dragging its heels when it comes to dealing with white supremacists and neo-Nazis in its ranks even though it was warned about the problem by military police last year.
Jun 13, 2019
Vice Adm. Art McDonald assumed command of the Royal Canadian Navy in a ceremony Wednesday in Halifax that also saw the military audience applaud the appearance of Vice Adm. Mark Norman.
Jun 13, 2019
The federal government has quietly taken construction of the coast guard's next heavy icebreaker away from Vancouver shipyard Seaspan, the latest in a string of upheavals in Canada's multibillion-dollar shipbuilding strategy.
Jun 13, 2019
Craig Dalton, Canada's new veterans ombudsman, says he fears his office has lost the trust and respect of some former soldiers and their families.
Jun 12, 2019
Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd turns over command of the RCN to Vice-Admiral Art McDonald in Halifax during a Change of Command ceremony presided over by General Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff.
Jun 12, 2019
At 10:17 EST, under heavy fog cover, Canada’s newest satellite venture successfully launched all three satellites of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission into orbit from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California.
Jun 12, 2019
Canada’s chief military judge took the witness box during his own court martial on Tuesday, during which he spoke about his personal and professional relationship with his deputy – who is also the presiding judge for his trial.
Jun 11, 2019
The court martial of Canada's chief military judge kicked off Monday with testimony about the accused's friendship with the presiding judge. It goes deeper than friendship, the presiding judge is also the accused's former Deputy.
Jun 11, 2019
Lockheed Martin delivers software upgrade to the U.S. Air Force’s current GPS ground control system. The upgrade will enable the Air Force to start commanding the new, next-generation GPS III satellites now coming off the production line and beginning to launch.
Jun 11, 2019
In a court challenge to a major procurement decision, the Govt states it has "sole discretion" to cancel and re-issue an RFP, while a lawyer for company counters that the Govt's right should not conflict with its duty "to act fairly."
Jun 11, 2019
Almost two months ago, on April 16, a soldier finished a 10-day sentence at the military’s prison, or ‘detention barracks,’ in Edmonton and was released. He was the only person confined at the 25-cell medium-security prison, which costs about $2 million a year to run, and has 26 full-time staff.
Jun 11, 2019
Soldiers tried for sexual assault are acquitted in military courts far more often than defendants in civilian courts who face the same charges, a new report says.
Jun 11, 2019
The commander of Canada's air force wants to pay retention and signing bonuses to pilots, one measure of several meant to address the military's shortage of experienced aviators and mechanics.
Jun 11, 2019
The criteria that will govern the selection of the winning bid to provide Canada’s next fleet of fighter jets will prioritize strategic attack and foreign ground-strike capabilities, according to government documents obtained by Postmedia – guidelines that are seen to favour Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth fighter.
Jun 10, 2019
The RADARSAT Constellation Mission – Canada’s next generation of Earth observation satellites – will launch on 12 June 2019 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
Jun 10, 2019
Davie Shipbuilding says that unlike its rival, Irving Shipbuilding, it has never been notified by the federal government when journalists call Ottawa with questions about the Quebec company’s contracts or obligations.
Jun 10, 2019
Canada's former commander in Iraq says the Islamic State may have been defeated on the battlefield, but the militant group remains alive and well as an insurgency and could still wield strong influence in the war-torn region.
Jun 10, 2019
Canada's military spies can collect and share information about Canadian citizens – including material gathered by chance – as long as it supports a legitimate investigation, says a newly disclosed federal directive.
Jun 07, 2019
After a near collision at sea this morning (03:35 GMT), Russia claims the USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) crossed just 50 metres in front of Russian destroyer Udaloy I (DD 572), and say they were forced to perform "emergency manoeuvring" to avoid a collision. U.S. forces blame the Russians, saying Chancellorsville was forced to engage reverse thrusters. See video at this link.
Jun 07, 2019
With an eye on sophisticated Russian jamming and spoofing technology, the U.S. Army will field test jam-resistant position, navigation and timing gear with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Germany this September.
Jun 07, 2019
A homeless veteran living out of her van has received offers of money, employment and places to stay from people in Ottawa and across the country.
Jun 06, 2019
Britain has fallen behind its allies and potential adversaries in key armored combat vehicle capabilities and must do more to become a force to be reckoned with, UK Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt has warned.
Jun 06, 2019
World leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will gather on the Normandy coast today to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the remarkable military and political achievement known as D-Day.
Jun 06, 2019
In 2018, Asterix was deployed 355 days. That included days in foreign ports, loading up with supplies, etc. Federal Fleet personnel on Asterix said the ship is capable of being at sea almost continuously year-round if needed.
Jun 05, 2019
A disjointed and politically distracted collection of allied nations, including Canada, will gather in Britain Wednesday to kick off a series of commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of the June 6, 1944 D-Day landings.
Jun 05, 2019
A journalist’s question about a potential problem with the Royal Canadian Navy’s new Arctic patrol ships prompted federal bureaucrats to generate more than 200 pages of documents as they warned Irving Shipbuilding about the news outlet’s interest in the multibillion dollar program.
Jun 04, 2019
NORAD is conducting air defence exercise flights along the Pacific coast and over the states of Colorado and Nebraska today.
Jun 04, 2019
Three Chinese warships have pulled into Australia's Sydney Harbor for a short stopover. A People's Liberation Army supply vessel, a frigate and an amphibious vessel docked at the Garden Island naval base on Monday morning.
Jun 04, 2019
The invasion of Normandy is widely considered one of the turning points in the Second World War, as the allies smashed through Hitler’s supposedly impregnable Atlantic Wall and began the westward march to Berlin to meet the Soviets coming from the east.
Jun 03, 2019
The federal government says the military is going to help with Alberta's wildfire fight. Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says Alberta has asked for Canadian Forces assistance and the federal government has accepted the request.
Jun 03, 2019
The Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle project is close to wrapping up, with full operational capability of the equipment set for the end of this year, according to an update from the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence.
Jun 03, 2019
Canadian naval forces based on Vancouver Island will soon be joining the Japanese navy and the U.S. Seventh Fleet to enforce international sanctions against North Korea.
Jun 01, 2019
Airbus Helicopters Canada marks 35 years of providing quality customer service and technology to the Canadian helicopter industry.
May 31, 2019
The federal government’s industrial benefits program for military procurement is so open to interpretation that instead of high-tech defence industry jobs Canada could end up with more plants that produce french fries, say procurement specialists.
May 31, 2019
The memorial for those killed in Canada's mission in Afghanistan at the new Department of Defence headquarters is to open to the public Friday afternoon. People who aren't military members, veterans or their families will have to register for visits in advance and be accompanied by Canadian Forces personnel, the department said Thursday.
May 31, 2019
The federal procurement minister is defending the government's plan to loosen procurement rules for the F-35 stealth fighter in the face of questions and concerns from companies that make competing jets.
May 31, 2019
Canada's federal procurement minister says she wishes the Irving company and its lawyers hadn't threatened to sue reporters asking questions about the company's federal shipbuilding contracts.
May 30, 2019
The U.S. State Department has, in the last year, quietly launched a new program known as the European Recapitalization Incentive Program, a new tool developed with U.S. European Command to try and speed the process of getting allied nations off Russian gear.
May 30, 2019
A federal tender to replace Canada's fighter jets will be issued formally by mid-July, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said Wednesday. Sajjan told a major defence industry trade show yesterday that the government hopes to have bids from aerospace contractors to review by the winter of 2020.
May 30, 2019
he Trudeau government's plan to loosen federal procurement rules for the F-35 stealth fighter is sparking public warnings from other fighter-jet makers that it will ultimately hurt Canada.
May 30, 2019
A Swedish aerospace firm that hopes to supply Canada’s new fleet of fighter jets says it could build the aircraft in this country, making maximum use of the expertise of domestic firms and creating high-tech jobs.
May 29, 2019
US, Canadian, and French maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) have deployed to the United Kingdom on 80 occasions since 2015 as part of an expansion of NATO surveillance of Russian naval and submarine activity in the North Atlantic.
May 29, 2019
The Senate’s national defence committee has voted 7-5 on a motion from Conservative Senator Jean-Guy Dagenais to examine the circumstances that led to the military’s second-in-command being suspended and charged with breach of trust.
May 29, 2019
President Donald Trump told U.S. troops stationed in Japan he plans to order traditional steam powered catapults aboard American warships instead of newer electromagnetic systems that he said may not work as well during wartime.
May 28, 2019
Just when DND needed it least, the Kandahar cenotaph ceremony debacle snatched decisive defeat from the jaws of a potential “reconnecting with Canadians” victory.
May 28, 2019
In this first Defence Watch podcast episode, the Ottawa Citizen’s David Pugliese conducts a rare interview with a member of Canada’s special forces.
May 28, 2019
Canadian Armed Forces members have been linked to six hate groups since 2013, according to an internal report that said the issue was damaging the military’s image.
May 27, 2019
VAdm Mark Norman has met with defence chief Gen. Jon Vance for what is being described by DND as a “cordial discussion” between the two officers. Norman has yet to return to National Defence headquarters in Ottawa and has declined to go into details about what his future plans are.
May 27, 2019
The Trump administration has formally invoked an exemption that allows the White House to clear $8.1 billion in weapon sales for Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates over congressional objections, in a move that could create trouble for the defense industry.
May 27, 2019
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he is not "personally bothered" by recent short-range missile tests that North Korea conducted this month, breaking with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is hosting the president on four-day state visit full of pageantry.
May 27, 2019
A face- saving solution for Gen Jonathan Vance, who has said the Afganistan memorial will not be moved despite a public backlash, could be to move the monument to the Beechwood National Memorial Center in Ottawa, says Scott Taylor.
May 24, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday he will get to the bottom on why families of soldiers who died in Afghanistan weren’t included in last week’s dedication of the Afghanistan Memorial in Ottawa.
May 24, 2019
Beyond Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance's rushed judge and jury execution of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, other issues are starting to make that hefty pay raise given to him this week by Justin Trudeau fall somewhere between inexplicable and laughable.
May 24, 2019
The Department of National Defence is looking to the entertainment industry to help fill its ranks as military membership continues to languish.
May 23, 2019
Mike MacLean, the RCMP Superintendent in charge of the Mark Norman debacle, said former cabinet ministers could have come forward if they had germane information to the case. In the real world, investigators go to the subjects who may assist an investigation (not the other way around), says former RCMP officer Leo Knight.
May 23, 2019
Serco will be acquiring Alion Science & Technology Corporation’s Naval Systems Business Unit, including its Canadian business contracts to the RCN, for $225 million. The acquisition, subject to certain regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the second half of 2019.
May 23, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has recommended a raise for Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. John Vance, boosting his salary’s upper limit to $306,500. The announcement was posted on a federal website the day after prosecutors dropped a criminal breach of trust charge against VAdm Mark Norman.
May 23, 2019
Statistics Canada has offered a sobering assessment of the Canadian Forces' four-year war on sexual misconduct, suggesting in a new report Wednesday that the military has made only minimal progress on several fronts.
May 23, 2019
Canada plans to build up to 18 new coast guard ships at a cost of $15.7 billion in an effort to renew Canada's Coast Guard fleet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday.
May 23, 2019
Canada’s top soldier has acknowledged the anger many Canadians felt about the way the Kandahar memorial was unveiled in Ottawa last week – in a shroud of secrecy, without the families of the dead soldiers present, and with ongoing limited public access.
May 22, 2019
The U.S. military scrambled five aircraft Monday to intercept two groups of Russian warplanes that flew in opposite directions off the coast of Alaska but never entered sovereign U.S. airspace, officials with the bi-national North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) said Tuesday.
May 22, 2019
Trudeau is expected to announce Wednesday that the federal government is buying two more Arctic patrol ships on top of the six it has already ordered from Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding. However, unlike the first six ships being built for the Navy, a government source said the seventh and eighth will be built for the Canadian Coast Guard.
May 22, 2019
A number of families who lost loved ones in Afghanistan say they feel betrayed by a decision made by bureaucrats at the Department of National Defence to privately dedicate a memorial last week containing the Kandahar battlefield cenotaph.