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DND has confirmed an investigation into Canada's new Chief of the Defence Staff for unspecified allegations of misconduct. Admiral Art McDonald, who assumed office in January, has voluntarily stepped aside as he is investigated by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.

Since May 25th, thousands of people of all ethnicities have taken to the streets in multiple cities around the world, as a groundswell movement for real and equal justice for all people began to take hold. Will 2020 finally be the year in which listening turns to hearing, and then to action? Change has indeed begun. Hopefully our leaders will embrace and assist this grassroots progress, but if not, to borrow from General Mattis, we can still do it together. What will you do?

Global interconnectivity and increasingly complex technologies seem to have seeded the relatively recent concept of Systems Thinking for problem solving. Telfer’s Complex Project Management course graduates learn to embrace complexity for ultimate success.

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.

A critically honest and engaged discussion between government and industry on defence procurement issues was held recently at the Telfer School of Management as part of the new Complex Project Leadership Programs.

Canadians accept the ethical responsibility to care for those who have been broken (mentally, physically or both) after being sent into harm’s way to serve the government’s will. The question is, will the courts acknowledge and legislate this moral imperative? The time has come to end this debate and do the right thing.

A recent RCAF announcement may impact defence policy, defence procurement, SAR mission effectiveness. Who will answer the SAR community?

A new Angus Reid poll shows that 71% of Canadians feel Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the wrong choice in awarding an out of court settlement of $10.5 million to Omar Khadr. The question is: who is the PM representing?

The first objective in the government’s strategy to improve defence procurement is “delivering the right equipment to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard in a timely manner.”

Five years later, has there been enough improvement in the years since CADSI's 2012 report was published?

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.

Welcome to the new FrontLine. This new magazine brings together many well-known writers and industry experts to offer another voice on the defence and enforcement scene. With the Canadian public becoming more and more aware of the issues and challenges in this sector, we certainly believe there is a need for this new publication.

The year 2016 started out with great promise. First, we had a new and invigorated government...

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.

The most important lesson the Trudeau government should take away from Brexit is take advice from informed sources.

May 20 - The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the most technically complex and advanced warship the world has ever seen, the future USS Zumwalt.

Average citizens should not have to dwell on how to deal angry jihadis. The Government of Canada should not depend on polls or approval ratings before making the necessary hard choices to ensure our peaceful lifestyle is protected against those who would obliterate it.

General Vance admonishes The Chronicle Herald for an editorial cartoon that insinuates the CAF has some issues with the subjugation of women.

Rona Ambrose has been chosen by her fellow party members as the interim leader of the new Conservative party. Ambrose, a very experienced Minister who held the portfolios of Environment, Public Works, and Health during her time in the Conservative Cabinet, was at times impeded by an Opposition that often opposed for the sake of being combative...

Are you relieved that we are turning the clocks back to the pre-sole-sourcing days of the CF-18 replacement?

"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.

As frustration levels rise among those involved in defence procurement, FrontLine responds by publishing additional rounds of constructive commentaries in this and coming editions.

There’s no denying that the Department of National Defence is in financial disarray.

The new Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy talks candidly about maritime and national security, ­discusses the challenges involved in preparing our sumbarines for operational readiness, increasing recruitment and securing the ocean commons for all peaceful nations.

Former Police Commissioner has a steep learning curve ahead if he is to make any difference to Defence Procurement.

Will the new Associate Minister of Defence (Procurement), Julian Fantino, de-clutter the playing field?

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.

Are we trading soldier safety for lower cost? That’s a delicate question. Our ‘special trucks’ correspondent, Shaun Connors, takes a look at the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) program and the companies competing to provide this much needed asset.

Vehicle wear and crew fatigue pose both safety and combat ­performance concerns.

The stigma of mental health illnesses is a challenging barrier to health care. The key to effective treatment is that people come forward to discuss their concerns.

Defence Procurement, SAR and Communication Control.

Are the requirements for public safety, national security and military force converging? Gasp!

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

How have women fared in infantry roles over the past decade? Don't even ask, it's a politically incorrect question.

In FrontLine’s continuing focus on the defence procurement system, we bring you the thoughtful response from Janet Thorsteinson to an important question recently posed by Dan Ross, ADM(Mat): “Is too much risk being passed to vendors?”

Careful assessment of the post 9/11 global security environment has uncovered important niche requirements that the navy is perfectly suited to fill.

FrontLine’s "Great Debate" on procurement looks at the situation from many angles... none of them very good.

Many are unaware of the full scope of what goes on in the Health Services - the underappreciated medical and dental services seems to be one of the CF's best kept secrets. The new Commander of the Health Services Group Explains her role and the wide variety of services under her command - from evaluating the health of potential recruiters to lifesaving front-line care of troops.

While informed debate is beneficial to the democratic process, it is absolutely critical to progress and growth. Articles in this ­edition of FrontLine Defence prove once again the complexities of the defence world.

The New Commander of the RCAF shares his vision for the Air Force and speaks candidly about a new priority for thinking outside the box and finding more efficient ways to do business. It is leading to improved training times while saving costs and reducing the environmental footprint.

The Director General of the Health Services Group speaks about the Road to Mental Readiness and other initiatives.

Canada/U.S. conference promotes integration of North American defence & security industrial base. With a heightened global instability and a shared concern for domestic security, the time is right for Canada and the United States to revitalize the bilateral co-operation that has historically existed between Canadian and U.S. defence and security industries.

Fixing What's Broken: “It’s a great time to be in the CF!” says General Hillier after less than two years as CDS. He is in the enviable position of rebuilding an energized Canadian Forces…

Advice from a 101 year old Cameron Highlander.

What is happening at Director General Space these days? A lot, explains the head of DND's Director General Space. read more >>

The CF is determined to follow the government’s new Defence Policy Statement. MGen Walt Natynczyk, appointed as Chief of the Canadian Forces Transformation on 1 June 2005, will lead that effort.

PSEPC was created with a mandate to build and implement national policies for emergency management, national security, and public safety. Minister McLellan discusses some of the many priorities facing her department.

Our neglect in developing a national SAR strategy has left the Canadian North dangerously vulnerable to more fatal accidents, and we may be called to task.

The revolutionary new way of contracting for the Air Force, Optimized Weapons System Support Management, puts more responsibility on industry, but they also gain in the global market by becoming “best of breed.”

Combining previous experience in volatile countries with his service in Afghanistan as Commander of the multinational International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 2004, LGen Rick Hillier is well positioned to transfer lessons learned fighting rebel forces to the new Army transformation and regeneration process.

FrontLine has compiled a tightly edited summation of excerpts from the Minister's speech at the Toronto conference.

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.

Are criticisms of the FWSAR reset fair? Were years of work ''lost'' or somewhat irrelevant?

Many have said it wouldn’t be done, some believed it couldn’t be done, but the federal government is actually working together to find the most workable combinations for defence procurement.

I believe we are indeed willing to fight for our way of life (and clearly, inaction is not even remotely an option), but who are we fighting, and why?

Defence Procurement: it’s the Government’s duty to get things moving.

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?