Time to move away from insular interests for security solutions
Insecurity is spreading. Another hot war in the Ukraine, a climate emergency, another Cold War and nuclear arms race, another long war just announced, 100 million people displaced by conflict and climate change, vast inequality and precarious conditions everywhere. Our new global neighbourhood looks rough and risky. Whatever happened to security, “the state of being […]
NATO’s new world order relies on multilateralism to strengthen its nuclear defence posture
Last week’s NATO Summit in Madrid launched the military alliance’s new strategic concept that focused on Russia’s threats to use weapons of mass destruction and on how to deter chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cyber attacks. NATO proclaimed in 2010 that “as long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance.” The concept […]
‘Anti-Trudeau’ movement ‘only just starting to be felt and understood politically’ despite muted Canada Day presence, say strategists, experts
In comparison to the “Freedom Convoy” that descended on Ottawa at the beginning of the year, those who marched through the nation’s capital on Canada Day were met immediately with a heavy police presence in a relatively muted atmosphere. But also unlike the events of January and February, those who demonstrated in Ottawa this time […]
Committee to weigh ‘appearance’ of political interference with government status quo in NS shooting case
Despite two weeks of difficult questions and condemnations for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his cabinet, analysts and Liberal strategists aren’t convinced that the controversy over the alleged interference in the RCMP’s investigation of the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting is something Canadian voters are actually concerned about. While the Liberals’ political rivals […]
Canada needs a closer examination of the Caucasus’ collective security
OTTAWA—On June 29 at the NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced that Canada would be opening five new embassies in the Baltic, Central Europe, and the Caucasus. According to Joly, “we need to have more ears and eyes on the ground” as a counter to the current onslaught of Russian […]
Why Canada must not go along with the U.S.’s efforts to start another Cold War
FREDERICTON, N.B.—The United States is initiating a new Cold War with China. The Biden administration intensified the trade and technological war against China started by the Trump administration. Biden has effectively utilized American military, economic, and diplomatic influence to construct various coalitions designed to “contain” China, such as AUKUS and the “Quad.” The U.S. has […]
Nukeless Sweden and Finland need NATO
LONDON, U.K.—Another 15 million people joined the NATO alliance on June 28. Finland and Sweden, formerly neutral countries but geographically near to Russia, gave in to Turkish blackmail, and that cleared the way for them to join the western alliance. (Every North Atlantic Treaty Organization member, including Turkey, has a veto on new members joining.) […]
Canadian military colleges years late applying needed reforms
When former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour delivered her report on sexual misconduct in the military, it was not surprising to see many connected to the Canadian Armed Forces misrepresenting her recommendations and deflecting calls to implement them. Perhaps none were more animated than ex-cadets rallying to the defence of the military colleges, railing against […]
Policing the precinct requires a principled plan
For the second time in a decade, Parliamentarians are examining security following a “traumatic” incident that impaired the normal functioning of Parliament. In 2015, following the previous year’s intrusion of an armed assailant into Centre Block—and the confusion of interoperability of security personnel and the RCMP on Parliament Hill—the Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) was created […]
Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees cries foul over private rehab contract that feds say will mean ‘fewer steps’ for vets, case managers
The union representing Veterans Affairs Canada workers is sounding the alarm over a $560-million contract for rehabilitation services that national president Virginia Vaillancourt says is a “contracting out of many of our functions to a private sector entity who does not have the same level of concerns for our clients.” But Veterans Affairs spokesperson Marc […]
