Who really benefits from Ukrainian aid?
OTTAWA—In the see-saw wave of information and disinformation emanating from the conflict in Ukraine, it has been extremely difficult to accurately assess what is actually happening on the ground—let alone predict the eventual outcome. The early expectations by western military analysts were that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mighty war machine would crush the diminutive Ukrainian […]
Every Ottawa crisis needs a good report, or two, or three…
CHELSEA, QUE.—Another week, another former Supreme Court justice, another damning report. To be followed, in another few years no doubt, by another damning report on the same subject, from another distinguished jurist (there seems to be an inexhaustible supply), who will note, with dismay, that previous reports’ gazillion recommendations were ignored by the government of […]
NDP defence critic, military experts support Arbour’s call for permanent civilian oversight of sexual misconduct cases in military
Military experts are welcoming former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour’s call to permanently transfer sexual misconduct cases in the Canadian Armed Forces into the civilian justice system, with NDP MP and her party’s national defence critic Lindsay Mathyssen saying that when the government previously moved those investigations under the purview of the CAF, “people knew […]
Expert report on national security lacks urgency, offers conflicting yet vague advice
There is no shortage of threats and problems preoccupying our daily lives: the first major war in Europe since 1945, a virus that refuses to leave our personal and political bodies along with a new one promising a monkey on our backs, and daily decisions about whether we need a bank loan to keep our […]
Delayed federal handgun freeze could mean summer sales spike
By announcing a freeze on almost all handgun sales and transfers in Canada, but delaying the implementation of that freeze, the federal government has given gun enthusiasts and stores a powerful incentive to buy and sell as many handguns as they can before the deadline, say the head of a firearm lobby group and a […]
Delivery timelines for vital defence procurements haven’t changed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The federal government has spotlighted a need to increasingly focus on Canada’s defence, but there hasn’t been any changes to when consequential purchases will be delivered to the military. In response to an Order Paper question from Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay (South Surrey-White Rock, B.C.), the Department of National Defence said it had “not accelerated […]
Reforming ‘misogynist’ military culture comes down to ‘political will’: report
The military’s handling of sexual misconduct is years behind advances made in Canada’s civilian society, which should take control of the “broken system” that is rife with misogyny, says former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, who spent a year conducting an independent external review of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. […]
Media still need to report the truth when it happens
OTTAWA—We are now entering the fourth month of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine and there remains no clear picture as to how this war is actually unfolding. There are several constants that have emerged which cannot be disputed. For instance, it is abundantly clear that the Russian war machine is nowhere near as vaunted as […]
Is Canada the global leader Canadians want it to be or think it is?
There has been a great deal of debate in the media recently, especially following the release of Budget 2022, about Canada’s role in the world. In the midst of multiple global crises, including the war in Ukraine and the seemingly endless COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing Canada struggle to find the balance between reacting to […]
Sovereignty in the Arctic and the struggles of the CC-295 Kingfisher
A few weeks ago, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) announced that its new search and rescue (SAR) aircraft, the CC-295 Kingfisher, will not reach Initial Operational Capability (IOC) until the 2025-2026 timeframe—a decade after it was selected in a competition. In truth, it is doubtful the aircraft will ever enter into service. SAR is […]
