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Scott Taylor

Scott Taylor is editor and publisher of Esprit de Corps magazine.

It may be time to eschew tradition to beef up Canada’s military

  • Given the developments on the battlefield in the ongoing war in Ukraine, maybe it’s time the CAF rethinks the structure of our military entirely.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 5, 2023
An Avidrone Avipak30 automated cargo delivery system is displayed at the Avidrone Aerospace booth at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa on May 31. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It may be time to eschew tradition to beef up Canada’s military

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 5, 2023
  • Given the developments on the battlefield in the ongoing war in Ukraine, maybe it’s time the CAF rethinks the structure of our military entirely.

It may be time to eschew tradition to beef up Canada’s military

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 5, 2023
  • Given the developments on the battlefield in the ongoing war in Ukraine, maybe it’s time the CAF rethinks the structure of our military entirely.
An Avidrone Avipak30 automated cargo delivery system is displayed at the Avidrone Aerospace booth at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa on May 31. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The tide has changed for the Russian war machine

  • It would seem that after 15 months of fighting, the tables have been turned and it is the Russian military that has become the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 29, 2023
As a sort of chess-move counter to Russia losing the battlefield advantage, Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently ordered the forward deployment of tactical nuclear weapons into neighbouring Belarus, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia/Flickr

The tide has changed for the Russian war machine

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 29, 2023
  • It would seem that after 15 months of fighting, the tables have been turned and it is the Russian military that has become the

The tide has changed for the Russian war machine

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 29, 2023
  • It would seem that after 15 months of fighting, the tables have been turned and it is the Russian military that has become the
As a sort of chess-move counter to Russia losing the battlefield advantage, Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently ordered the forward deployment of tactical nuclear weapons into neighbouring Belarus, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia/Flickr

South Korea visit a chance to dive into Canada’s submarine quagmire

  • Korean military analysts were quick to note that Korea's KSS-III submarines would be a perfect fit for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future requirements.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 24, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Ottawa on Sept. 23, 2022. There was media speculation that during a recent meeting in Korea, talks between the two leaders involved a potential submarine deal, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

South Korea visit a chance to dive into Canada’s submarine quagmire

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 24, 2023
  • Korean military analysts were quick to note that Korea's KSS-III submarines would be a perfect fit for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future requirements.

South Korea visit a chance to dive into Canada’s submarine quagmire

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 24, 2023
  • Korean military analysts were quick to note that Korea's KSS-III submarines would be a perfect fit for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future requirements.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Ottawa on Sept. 23, 2022. There was media speculation that during a recent meeting in Korea, talks between the two leaders involved a potential submarine deal, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Despite passport polemic, Canada wasn’t ‘born’ at Vimy Ridge

  • Canada first cut the umbilical cord to Mother Britain during the Chanak crisis of September 1922, but there are no monuments to the wars
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 15, 2023
To give them credit, the Vimy Foundation has been hugely successful in promoting the Vimy Ridge myth over the past two decades, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Andy Hay/Flickr

Despite passport polemic, Canada wasn’t ‘born’ at Vimy Ridge

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 15, 2023
  • Canada first cut the umbilical cord to Mother Britain during the Chanak crisis of September 1922, but there are no monuments to the wars

Despite passport polemic, Canada wasn’t ‘born’ at Vimy Ridge

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 15, 2023
  • Canada first cut the umbilical cord to Mother Britain during the Chanak crisis of September 1922, but there are no monuments to the wars
To give them credit, the Vimy Foundation has been hugely successful in promoting the Vimy Ridge myth over the past two decades, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Andy Hay/Flickr

Finding the silver lining in a cloudy Sudan evacuation operation

  • MV Asterix proved to be a very valuable asset to all those allied nations toiling to evacuate their nationals via the port of Sudan.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 8, 2023
Members of MV Asterix perform a replenishment at sea with HMS Lancaster in the Red Sea during Operation Savanne on April 27. DND photograph by S1 Taylor Congdon

Finding the silver lining in a cloudy Sudan evacuation operation

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 8, 2023
  • MV Asterix proved to be a very valuable asset to all those allied nations toiling to evacuate their nationals via the port of Sudan.

Finding the silver lining in a cloudy Sudan evacuation operation

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 8, 2023
  • MV Asterix proved to be a very valuable asset to all those allied nations toiling to evacuate their nationals via the port of Sudan.
Members of MV Asterix perform a replenishment at sea with HMS Lancaster in the Red Sea during Operation Savanne on April 27. DND photograph by S1 Taylor Congdon

Canada playing catch up with its Sudan response

  • The efforts of the Canadian military would have been enhanced if we had kept some sort of diplomatic foothold on the ground.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 1, 2023
On April 27, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the Canadian Armed Forces would be belatedly riding to the rescue for Canadian nationals in Sudan, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada playing catch up with its Sudan response

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 1, 2023
  • The efforts of the Canadian military would have been enhanced if we had kept some sort of diplomatic foothold on the ground.

Canada playing catch up with its Sudan response

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 1, 2023
  • The efforts of the Canadian military would have been enhanced if we had kept some sort of diplomatic foothold on the ground.
On April 27, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the Canadian Armed Forces would be belatedly riding to the rescue for Canadian nationals in Sudan, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s military is past the point of a quick fix

  • Far beyond the size of Canada’s defence budget, the real crisis facing the Canadian military right now is its chronic shortfall in personnel.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 26, 2023
Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre speaks with soldiers deployed on Operation Unifier in the U.K. on Oct. 28, 2022. Last October, Eyre declared the personnel shortage to be the CAF’s No. 1 priority, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the CAF/Corp. Eric Greico

Canada’s military is past the point of a quick fix

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 26, 2023
  • Far beyond the size of Canada’s defence budget, the real crisis facing the Canadian military right now is its chronic shortfall in personnel.

Canada’s military is past the point of a quick fix

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 26, 2023
  • Far beyond the size of Canada’s defence budget, the real crisis facing the Canadian military right now is its chronic shortfall in personnel.
Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre speaks with soldiers deployed on Operation Unifier in the U.K. on Oct. 28, 2022. Last October, Eyre declared the personnel shortage to be the CAF’s No. 1 priority, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the CAF/Corp. Eric Greico

Trudeau’s rose-tinted history avoids reality of Ukrainian support

  • By every conventional measure, Canada is involved in a proxy war with Russia. 
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 19, 2023
While I am certainly in agreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the fact that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is illegal, to claim this act of aggression shattered eight decades of world peace is just dumb, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s rose-tinted history avoids reality of Ukrainian support

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 19, 2023
  • By every conventional measure, Canada is involved in a proxy war with Russia. 

Trudeau’s rose-tinted history avoids reality of Ukrainian support

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 19, 2023
  • By every conventional measure, Canada is involved in a proxy war with Russia. 
While I am certainly in agreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the fact that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is illegal, to claim this act of aggression shattered eight decades of world peace is just dumb, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The challenge with using old ideas to solve the CAF staffing crisis

  • The Naval Experience Program mirrors that of standard recruitment into the Canadian Armed Forces.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 10, 2023
The Naval Experience Program is intended to give Canadians the opportunity to experience the Navy as a sailor on a one-year contract before deciding if a career in the Navy is the right fit for them, Scott Taylor writes. DND photograph by MCpl Manuela Berger

The challenge with using old ideas to solve the CAF staffing crisis

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 10, 2023
  • The Naval Experience Program mirrors that of standard recruitment into the Canadian Armed Forces.

The challenge with using old ideas to solve the CAF staffing crisis

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 10, 2023
  • The Naval Experience Program mirrors that of standard recruitment into the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Naval Experience Program is intended to give Canadians the opportunity to experience the Navy as a sailor on a one-year contract before deciding if a career in the Navy is the right fit for them, Scott Taylor writes. DND photograph by MCpl Manuela Berger

The last thing we need is more of the Iraq conflict

  • On March 27, National Defence Minister Anita Anand announced a further extension of Operation Impact until at least March 31, 2025.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 3, 2023
A door gunner with the Tactical Aviation Detachment watches out of a CH-146 Griffon helicopter during Operation Impact on Sept. 27, 2017. The last thing the Canadian Armed Forces needs is this further extension of the mission in Iraq, a mission that has no clear aim and zero chance of success, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

The last thing we need is more of the Iraq conflict

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 3, 2023
  • On March 27, National Defence Minister Anita Anand announced a further extension of Operation Impact until at least March 31, 2025.

The last thing we need is more of the Iraq conflict

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 3, 2023
  • On March 27, National Defence Minister Anita Anand announced a further extension of Operation Impact until at least March 31, 2025.
A door gunner with the Tactical Aviation Detachment watches out of a CH-146 Griffon helicopter during Operation Impact on Sept. 27, 2017. The last thing the Canadian Armed Forces needs is this further extension of the mission in Iraq, a mission that has no clear aim and zero chance of success, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

Our soldiers should not be used as political pawns

  • As a proud Canadian, I would like to think that our defence budget is spent for the purpose of providing security, rather than simply
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 27, 2023
National Defence Minister Anita Anand, left, speaks with Maj.-Gen. Steve Boivin, commander of the Canadian Special Operations Command, after a press conference at National Defence headquarters in downtown Ottawa on March 21 to announce $1.4-billion in funding to revitalize the JTF-2 training site at Dwyer Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Our soldiers should not be used as political pawns

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 27, 2023
  • As a proud Canadian, I would like to think that our defence budget is spent for the purpose of providing security, rather than simply

Our soldiers should not be used as political pawns

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 27, 2023
  • As a proud Canadian, I would like to think that our defence budget is spent for the purpose of providing security, rather than simply
National Defence Minister Anita Anand, left, speaks with Maj.-Gen. Steve Boivin, commander of the Canadian Special Operations Command, after a press conference at National Defence headquarters in downtown Ottawa on March 21 to announce $1.4-billion in funding to revitalize the JTF-2 training site at Dwyer Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada should call foul on dodgy drone narrative

  • It is difficult to fathom why Canadian media outlets unquestionably parrot the U.S. narrative that a recent drone interception was an unprovoked act of
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 20, 2023
It has been widely reported that the American drone downed over the Black Sea was a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, an airborne execution machine, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph by Chris Hunkeler/Flickr

Canada should call foul on dodgy drone narrative

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 20, 2023
  • It is difficult to fathom why Canadian media outlets unquestionably parrot the U.S. narrative that a recent drone interception was an unprovoked act of

Canada should call foul on dodgy drone narrative

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 20, 2023
  • It is difficult to fathom why Canadian media outlets unquestionably parrot the U.S. narrative that a recent drone interception was an unprovoked act of
It has been widely reported that the American drone downed over the Black Sea was a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, an airborne execution machine, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph by Chris Hunkeler/Flickr

To entice Canadian soldiers, give them the tools they need to do the job

  • The best way to address both the recruiting and retention dilemma for the Armed Forces would be to ensure our troops are equipped with
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 13, 2023
National Defence Minister Anita Anand told the Ottawa Conference on Defence and Security attendees on March 9 that the government will be fast-tracking three key military procurement projects. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

To entice Canadian soldiers, give them the tools they need to do the job

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 13, 2023
  • The best way to address both the recruiting and retention dilemma for the Armed Forces would be to ensure our troops are equipped with

To entice Canadian soldiers, give them the tools they need to do the job

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 13, 2023
  • The best way to address both the recruiting and retention dilemma for the Armed Forces would be to ensure our troops are equipped with
National Defence Minister Anita Anand told the Ottawa Conference on Defence and Security attendees on March 9 that the government will be fast-tracking three key military procurement projects. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

In an imperfect world, a total Ukrainian victory isn’t feasible

  • The choice is either a large-scale ethnic cleansing or a permanent fixed security presence sitting atop a hostile civilian population.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 6, 2023
If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy achieves his goal of driving all Russian invaders from his country’s territory, that may in fact preclude any chance of a lasting peace in the region, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/President of Ukraine

In an imperfect world, a total Ukrainian victory isn’t feasible

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 6, 2023
  • The choice is either a large-scale ethnic cleansing or a permanent fixed security presence sitting atop a hostile civilian population.

In an imperfect world, a total Ukrainian victory isn’t feasible

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 6, 2023
  • The choice is either a large-scale ethnic cleansing or a permanent fixed security presence sitting atop a hostile civilian population.
If Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy achieves his goal of driving all Russian invaders from his country’s territory, that may in fact preclude any chance of a lasting peace in the region, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/President of Ukraine

Like past conflicts, the full extent of war in Ukraine won’t be known for years

  • For those who want Putin held accountable for his actions in Ukraine, the same calls for justice are equally applicable to western leaders.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 27, 2023
Canadian elements of the enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia conduct a wet-gap crossing with assistance from Spanish engineers as part of Operation Reassurance, on Feb. 9, 2023, at the Camp Adazi Training Area in Latvia. Spanish Army photograph by Staff Sergeant Christian Milano

Like past conflicts, the full extent of war in Ukraine won’t be known for years

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 27, 2023
  • For those who want Putin held accountable for his actions in Ukraine, the same calls for justice are equally applicable to western leaders.

Like past conflicts, the full extent of war in Ukraine won’t be known for years

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 27, 2023
  • For those who want Putin held accountable for his actions in Ukraine, the same calls for justice are equally applicable to western leaders.
Canadian elements of the enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia conduct a wet-gap crossing with assistance from Spanish engineers as part of Operation Reassurance, on Feb. 9, 2023, at the Camp Adazi Training Area in Latvia. Spanish Army photograph by Staff Sergeant Christian Milano

Canada’s Haiti plan a mixed bag of nobility and uselessness

  • Given that the crisis in Haiti is violent anarchy on the streets, dispatching two tiny Navy patrol vessels to sit off the coast of
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 20, 2023
HMCS Glace Bay sails through the Maniitsoq Fjord during Operation Nanook on Aug. 14, 2020. The federal government announced on Feb. 16 that HMCS Glace Bay and HMCS Moncton will be deployed to patrol off the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. DND photograph courtesy of Corporal David Veldman

Canada’s Haiti plan a mixed bag of nobility and uselessness

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 20, 2023
  • Given that the crisis in Haiti is violent anarchy on the streets, dispatching two tiny Navy patrol vessels to sit off the coast of

Canada’s Haiti plan a mixed bag of nobility and uselessness

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 20, 2023
  • Given that the crisis in Haiti is violent anarchy on the streets, dispatching two tiny Navy patrol vessels to sit off the coast of
HMCS Glace Bay sails through the Maniitsoq Fjord during Operation Nanook on Aug. 14, 2020. The federal government announced on Feb. 16 that HMCS Glace Bay and HMCS Moncton will be deployed to patrol off the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. DND photograph courtesy of Corporal David Veldman

Canada’s high-flying failings in defence procurement

  • While it might seem somewhat embarrassing that Canada cannot spare any more modern military hardware for Ukraine, it must be remembered that not that
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 13, 2023
Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet pilots prepare to taxi out on a combat training flight during Operation Reassurance in Romania on Oct. 19, 2020. The final phase-out of Canada’s existing legacy CF-18 fleet will not be complete until sometime in 2032. DND photograph by S1 Zach Barr

Canada’s high-flying failings in defence procurement

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 13, 2023
  • While it might seem somewhat embarrassing that Canada cannot spare any more modern military hardware for Ukraine, it must be remembered that not that

Canada’s high-flying failings in defence procurement

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 13, 2023
  • While it might seem somewhat embarrassing that Canada cannot spare any more modern military hardware for Ukraine, it must be remembered that not that
Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet pilots prepare to taxi out on a combat training flight during Operation Reassurance in Romania on Oct. 19, 2020. The final phase-out of Canada’s existing legacy CF-18 fleet will not be complete until sometime in 2032. DND photograph by S1 Zach Barr

Putin’s Stalingrad analogy is lost in translation

  • As much as the Russian president may want to draw parallels, in the current context, it’s the Ukrainians who are facing the existential threat.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 6, 2023
The centre of the city of Stalingrad after liberation from the German occupation in February 1943. During that battle, the Soviets had no option but to succeed on the battlefield or submit to Nazi tyranny, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Putin’s Stalingrad analogy is lost in translation

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 6, 2023
  • As much as the Russian president may want to draw parallels, in the current context, it’s the Ukrainians who are facing the existential threat.

Putin’s Stalingrad analogy is lost in translation

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 6, 2023
  • As much as the Russian president may want to draw parallels, in the current context, it’s the Ukrainians who are facing the existential threat.
The centre of the city of Stalingrad after liberation from the German occupation in February 1943. During that battle, the Soviets had no option but to succeed on the battlefield or submit to Nazi tyranny, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Tanking support for the Armed Forces

  • The fact the Canadian Army has 82 Leopard 2 tanks but is hard pressed to part with just four of them to give to
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 30, 2023
Soldiers conduct firing simulations with Leopard 2A4 tanks at CFB Valcartier in Quebec City, Que., on Nov. 22, 2017. DND photograph by Aviator Stéphanie Labossière

Tanking support for the Armed Forces

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 30, 2023
  • The fact the Canadian Army has 82 Leopard 2 tanks but is hard pressed to part with just four of them to give to

Tanking support for the Armed Forces

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 30, 2023
  • The fact the Canadian Army has 82 Leopard 2 tanks but is hard pressed to part with just four of them to give to
Soldiers conduct firing simulations with Leopard 2A4 tanks at CFB Valcartier in Quebec City, Que., on Nov. 22, 2017. DND photograph by Aviator Stéphanie Labossière

Time to push the eject button on Operation Impact

  • Faced with a personnel shortage, the Canadian Armed Forces should reduce Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie’s task load and put an immediate end to Operation Impact.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 23, 2023
Soldiers sign a mural designed and painted by Sergeant Veronique Fradette at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait during Operation Impact on March 8, 2022. DND photograph by Corporal Eric Greico

Time to push the eject button on Operation Impact

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 23, 2023
  • Faced with a personnel shortage, the Canadian Armed Forces should reduce Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie’s task load and put an immediate end to Operation Impact.

Time to push the eject button on Operation Impact

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 23, 2023
  • Faced with a personnel shortage, the Canadian Armed Forces should reduce Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie’s task load and put an immediate end to Operation Impact.
Soldiers sign a mural designed and painted by Sergeant Veronique Fradette at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait during Operation Impact on March 8, 2022. DND photograph by Corporal Eric Greico

Canadian soldiers left waiting as arming Ukraine takes precedence

  • The fact that a $400-million purchase could be made so quickly and expeditiously by the Canadian government to outfit a foreign military, while Canada’s
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 16, 2023
A Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System in 2010. Knowing it was deficient in tactical air defence, the Canadian Army has been trying to acquire new systems since 2017, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Canadian soldiers left waiting as arming Ukraine takes precedence

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 16, 2023
  • The fact that a $400-million purchase could be made so quickly and expeditiously by the Canadian government to outfit a foreign military, while Canada’s

Canadian soldiers left waiting as arming Ukraine takes precedence

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 16, 2023
  • The fact that a $400-million purchase could be made so quickly and expeditiously by the Canadian government to outfit a foreign military, while Canada’s
A Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System in 2010. Knowing it was deficient in tactical air defence, the Canadian Army has been trying to acquire new systems since 2017, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Canada not getting the bang for its defence procurement buck

  • There should be an appreciation for just how much money the government is spending in return for almost nothing tangible in terms of increased
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 9, 2023
Defence Minister Anita Anand announced on Jan. 9 Canada had finalized a deal to purchase new F-35 jets, just one of many defence procurement projects where Canada isn’t seeing value for money, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada not getting the bang for its defence procurement buck

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 9, 2023
  • There should be an appreciation for just how much money the government is spending in return for almost nothing tangible in terms of increased

Canada not getting the bang for its defence procurement buck

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 9, 2023
  • There should be an appreciation for just how much money the government is spending in return for almost nothing tangible in terms of increased
Defence Minister Anita Anand announced on Jan. 9 Canada had finalized a deal to purchase new F-35 jets, just one of many defence procurement projects where Canada isn’t seeing value for money, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Change in approach necessary as Canadian Army feels the squeeze

  • The commander of our Army is rightly concerned that Canada has little more to offer in terms of a sustained commitment to a reinforced
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 3, 2023
Canadian Armed Forces members participate in an exercise at Camp Ādaži, Latvia, in October 2019. Last June, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed an agreement to grow the allied force in Latvia to a full brigade, but that increase in personnel should come from the other nine European NATO allies currently contributing soldiers, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Djalma Vuong-De Ramos

Change in approach necessary as Canadian Army feels the squeeze

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 3, 2023
  • The commander of our Army is rightly concerned that Canada has little more to offer in terms of a sustained commitment to a reinforced

Change in approach necessary as Canadian Army feels the squeeze

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 3, 2023
  • The commander of our Army is rightly concerned that Canada has little more to offer in terms of a sustained commitment to a reinforced
Canadian Armed Forces members participate in an exercise at Camp Ādaži, Latvia, in October 2019. Last June, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed an agreement to grow the allied force in Latvia to a full brigade, but that increase in personnel should come from the other nine European NATO allies currently contributing soldiers, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Djalma Vuong-De Ramos

Ukraine war reveals Russia’s military as a spent force

  • Despite the bravado and brave words about mobilizing hundreds of thousands more troops, Putin’s generals know they have lost the war.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 30, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently told a gathering of military brass that Russia would do whatever it takes to meet the objectives of the so-called special military operation in Ukraine, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Ukraine war reveals Russia’s military as a spent force

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 30, 2022
  • Despite the bravado and brave words about mobilizing hundreds of thousands more troops, Putin’s generals know they have lost the war.

Ukraine war reveals Russia’s military as a spent force

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 30, 2022
  • Despite the bravado and brave words about mobilizing hundreds of thousands more troops, Putin’s generals know they have lost the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently told a gathering of military brass that Russia would do whatever it takes to meet the objectives of the so-called special military operation in Ukraine, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Call-sign snafu signals CAF has more work to do

  • The fact that some 30 fellow officers either concurred with this call sign or failed to raise any objections is clear proof of the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 19, 2022
Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188 Hornet fighters fly over Iceland on May 31, 2017, during an Operation Reassurance surveillance mission. DND photograph by Corporal Gary Calvé

Call-sign snafu signals CAF has more work to do

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 19, 2022
  • The fact that some 30 fellow officers either concurred with this call sign or failed to raise any objections is clear proof of the

Call-sign snafu signals CAF has more work to do

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 19, 2022
  • The fact that some 30 fellow officers either concurred with this call sign or failed to raise any objections is clear proof of the
Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188 Hornet fighters fly over Iceland on May 31, 2017, during an Operation Reassurance surveillance mission. DND photograph by Corporal Gary Calvé

New military recruitment tools a good start, but no short-term fix

  • The updated dress code and new citizenship eligibility rules will better connect underrepresented factions, but there are no quick fixes in the offing.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 14, 2022
On Dec. 5, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced that Canadian permanent residents are eligible to enlist in the Armed Forces. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

New military recruitment tools a good start, but no short-term fix

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 14, 2022
  • The updated dress code and new citizenship eligibility rules will better connect underrepresented factions, but there are no quick fixes in the offing.

New military recruitment tools a good start, but no short-term fix

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 14, 2022
  • The updated dress code and new citizenship eligibility rules will better connect underrepresented factions, but there are no quick fixes in the offing.
On Dec. 5, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced that Canadian permanent residents are eligible to enlist in the Armed Forces. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Former military official should know when to wave the white flag

  • The truly ironic part of Michel Maisonneuve’s argument is that he repeatedly calls for leaders to be less divisive and more unifying.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 5, 2022
After his controversial Nov. 9 speech and the subsequent fallout, it is high time that retired Lt.-Gen. Michel Maisonneuve throw in the towel, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans

Former military official should know when to wave the white flag

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 5, 2022
  • The truly ironic part of Michel Maisonneuve’s argument is that he repeatedly calls for leaders to be less divisive and more unifying.

Former military official should know when to wave the white flag

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 5, 2022
  • The truly ironic part of Michel Maisonneuve’s argument is that he repeatedly calls for leaders to be less divisive and more unifying.
After his controversial Nov. 9 speech and the subsequent fallout, it is high time that retired Lt.-Gen. Michel Maisonneuve throw in the towel, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans
More Stories

Is Canada prepared for the new-age battlefield?

  • For those closely following the current conflict in Ukraine, it is readily apparent that the battlefield continues to evolve and with it the way
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 30, 2022
Bombadier Marie Robert guides the Sperwer UAV as it is hoisted onto the catapult ramp prior to launch in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2003. The current scourges of the battlefield are the unmanned aerial vehicles, more commonly known as drones, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Doug Farmer

Is Canada prepared for the new-age battlefield?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 30, 2022
  • For those closely following the current conflict in Ukraine, it is readily apparent that the battlefield continues to evolve and with it the way

Is Canada prepared for the new-age battlefield?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 30, 2022
  • For those closely following the current conflict in Ukraine, it is readily apparent that the battlefield continues to evolve and with it the way
Bombadier Marie Robert guides the Sperwer UAV as it is hoisted onto the catapult ramp prior to launch in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2003. The current scourges of the battlefield are the unmanned aerial vehicles, more commonly known as drones, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Doug Farmer

Silver lining in divided reactions to Maisonneuve’s Vimy Gala tirade

  • It is heartening to see that there are two separate camps. While some still pine for the dinosaur era, there are progressives in the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 21, 2022
The division sown at the Vimy Gala in reaction to retired lieutenant-general Michel Maisonneuve's speech did not remain within the exhibition hall at the Museum of History, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the CDA Institute's Twitter

Silver lining in divided reactions to Maisonneuve’s Vimy Gala tirade

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 21, 2022
  • It is heartening to see that there are two separate camps. While some still pine for the dinosaur era, there are progressives in the

Silver lining in divided reactions to Maisonneuve’s Vimy Gala tirade

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 21, 2022
  • It is heartening to see that there are two separate camps. While some still pine for the dinosaur era, there are progressives in the
The division sown at the Vimy Gala in reaction to retired lieutenant-general Michel Maisonneuve's speech did not remain within the exhibition hall at the Museum of History, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the CDA Institute's Twitter

Warmongers are watching the wrong channel

  • If Russian forces could barely advance into Ukraine before their logistics and resupply collapsed into chaos, what chance could they have to conduct large-scale
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 14, 2022
Russian General Sergey Surovikin went on Russian state television last week to announce they would be making a temporary tactical withdrawal from the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Screenshot courtesy of CNN

Warmongers are watching the wrong channel

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 14, 2022
  • If Russian forces could barely advance into Ukraine before their logistics and resupply collapsed into chaos, what chance could they have to conduct large-scale

Warmongers are watching the wrong channel

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 14, 2022
  • If Russian forces could barely advance into Ukraine before their logistics and resupply collapsed into chaos, what chance could they have to conduct large-scale
Russian General Sergey Surovikin went on Russian state television last week to announce they would be making a temporary tactical withdrawal from the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Screenshot courtesy of CNN

LAV story: Canada’s armoured vehicle leadership is a pipe dream

  • What has proven effective in Ukraine is long-range artillery with precision munitions, but unfortunately Canada does not produce such ordnance.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 7, 2022
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces prepare their light armoured vehicles for operations during an exercise in Wainwright, Alta., on May 9. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch

LAV story: Canada’s armoured vehicle leadership is a pipe dream

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 7, 2022
  • What has proven effective in Ukraine is long-range artillery with precision munitions, but unfortunately Canada does not produce such ordnance.

LAV story: Canada’s armoured vehicle leadership is a pipe dream

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 7, 2022
  • What has proven effective in Ukraine is long-range artillery with precision munitions, but unfortunately Canada does not produce such ordnance.
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces prepare their light armoured vehicles for operations during an exercise in Wainwright, Alta., on May 9. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch

Money for nothing?

  • OTTAWA—There has been a lot of news recently about defence procurement in Canada, and sadly, none of it has been positive. Last week, the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 31, 2022
Outside of the life cycle costs, Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux has pegged the bill for developing and building the new Canadian Surface Combatant ships at $84.5-billion. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Money for nothing?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 31, 2022
  • OTTAWA—There has been a lot of news recently about defence procurement in Canada, and sadly, none of it has been positive. Last week, the

Money for nothing?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 31, 2022
  • OTTAWA—There has been a lot of news recently about defence procurement in Canada, and sadly, none of it has been positive. Last week, the
Outside of the life cycle costs, Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux has pegged the bill for developing and building the new Canadian Surface Combatant ships at $84.5-billion. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Military leadership not making the strongest case for more munitions

  • For decades, the fearmongering NATO pundits all warned us of Russia’s incredible martial power, but we now realize that the Russian military capability was
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 24, 2022
Chief of the defence staff General Wayne Eyre’s argument is that the current Russia versus Ukraine conflict provides the catalyst for boosting military equipment production, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Military leadership not making the strongest case for more munitions

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 24, 2022
  • For decades, the fearmongering NATO pundits all warned us of Russia’s incredible martial power, but we now realize that the Russian military capability was

Military leadership not making the strongest case for more munitions

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 24, 2022
  • For decades, the fearmongering NATO pundits all warned us of Russia’s incredible martial power, but we now realize that the Russian military capability was
Chief of the defence staff General Wayne Eyre’s argument is that the current Russia versus Ukraine conflict provides the catalyst for boosting military equipment production, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Cleaning out the closet won’t keep military’s bare morale shelves stocked

  • OTTAWA—On Oct. 12, Minister of National Defence Anita Anand announced that Canada would be providing an additional $15.2-million worth of military aid to Ukraine.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 19, 2022
Defence Minister Anita Anand’s latest announcement was for more Canadian equipment for the Ukrainian military, but it will only be a matter of time before the shortages of weapons, uniforms, and training seriously erodes the combat proficiency of our Army, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Cleaning out the closet won’t keep military’s bare morale shelves stocked

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 19, 2022
  • OTTAWA—On Oct. 12, Minister of National Defence Anita Anand announced that Canada would be providing an additional $15.2-million worth of military aid to Ukraine.

Cleaning out the closet won’t keep military’s bare morale shelves stocked

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 19, 2022
  • OTTAWA—On Oct. 12, Minister of National Defence Anita Anand announced that Canada would be providing an additional $15.2-million worth of military aid to Ukraine.
Defence Minister Anita Anand’s latest announcement was for more Canadian equipment for the Ukrainian military, but it will only be a matter of time before the shortages of weapons, uniforms, and training seriously erodes the combat proficiency of our Army, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Military masters should carefully pick our battles before buying weapons

  • OTTAWA—Watching the once-vaunted, mighty Russian war machine come apart in Ukraine should be something which our Canadian military studies with detailed interest. While Canada
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 10, 2022
Members of the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, hold a M777 Howitzer shooting range practice at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, in Manitoba, on Feb. 8, 2022. Canada has provided four 155mm M777 howitzers to Ukraine. DND photograph by Corporal Stéphanie Labossière

Military masters should carefully pick our battles before buying weapons

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 10, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Watching the once-vaunted, mighty Russian war machine come apart in Ukraine should be something which our Canadian military studies with detailed interest. While Canada

Military masters should carefully pick our battles before buying weapons

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 10, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Watching the once-vaunted, mighty Russian war machine come apart in Ukraine should be something which our Canadian military studies with detailed interest. While Canada
Members of the 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, hold a M777 Howitzer shooting range practice at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, in Manitoba, on Feb. 8, 2022. Canada has provided four 155mm M777 howitzers to Ukraine. DND photograph by Corporal Stéphanie Labossière

Canadian soldiers play a key role in domestic disasters—but they shouldn’t

  • OTTAWA—In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, the Canadian military was quick to deploy more than 700 personnel to the Atlantic provinces to assist
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 3, 2022
Rescue swimmers and other members of HMCS Margaret Brooke remove debris from the shoreline in La Poile, Nfld., on Sept. 29. The all-too-familiar response in the face of the growing number of natural disasters isn’t an effective use of highly trained, specialized combat troops, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Kuzma

Canadian soldiers play a key role in domestic disasters—but they shouldn’t

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 3, 2022
  • OTTAWA—In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, the Canadian military was quick to deploy more than 700 personnel to the Atlantic provinces to assist

Canadian soldiers play a key role in domestic disasters—but they shouldn’t

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 3, 2022
  • OTTAWA—In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, the Canadian military was quick to deploy more than 700 personnel to the Atlantic provinces to assist
Rescue swimmers and other members of HMCS Margaret Brooke remove debris from the shoreline in La Poile, Nfld., on Sept. 29. The all-too-familiar response in the face of the growing number of natural disasters isn’t an effective use of highly trained, specialized combat troops, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Kuzma

Tallying up Putin’s Ukrainian miscalculation

  • OTTAWA—There is now absolutely no denying that Russian President Vladimir Putin made a major miscalculation when he invaded Ukraine. Following a series of successful
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 26, 2022
If current parameters remain unchanged, the advantage enjoyed by Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in terms of weaponry and tactical competence, will only increase over time, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr

Tallying up Putin’s Ukrainian miscalculation

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 26, 2022
  • OTTAWA—There is now absolutely no denying that Russian President Vladimir Putin made a major miscalculation when he invaded Ukraine. Following a series of successful

Tallying up Putin’s Ukrainian miscalculation

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 26, 2022
  • OTTAWA—There is now absolutely no denying that Russian President Vladimir Putin made a major miscalculation when he invaded Ukraine. Following a series of successful
If current parameters remain unchanged, the advantage enjoyed by Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in terms of weaponry and tactical competence, will only increase over time, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr

What comes after a humiliating Russian loss in Ukraine?

  • OTTAWA—Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of significant developments in the ongoing war in Ukraine. While it remains the case
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 19, 2022
Russian invaders have suffered a major defeat near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, where panicked Russians reportedly abandoned their armoured vehicles and ammunition stockpiles and fled in terror, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/ITV News

What comes after a humiliating Russian loss in Ukraine?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 19, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of significant developments in the ongoing war in Ukraine. While it remains the case

What comes after a humiliating Russian loss in Ukraine?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 19, 2022
  • OTTAWA—Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of significant developments in the ongoing war in Ukraine. While it remains the case
Russian invaders have suffered a major defeat near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, where panicked Russians reportedly abandoned their armoured vehicles and ammunition stockpiles and fled in terror, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/ITV News

The Queen is dead. Long live the monarchy?

  • OTTAWA—The death of Queen Elizabeth at the age of 96 after 70 years as the Commonwealth’s reigning monarch was certainly not an unexpected shock.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 12, 2022
The death of Queen Elizabeth might provide the Canadian military the catalyst to pull the plug and the unit names and traditions associated with the Royal Family and Canada’s colonial past, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

The Queen is dead. Long live the monarchy?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 12, 2022
  • OTTAWA—The death of Queen Elizabeth at the age of 96 after 70 years as the Commonwealth’s reigning monarch was certainly not an unexpected shock.

The Queen is dead. Long live the monarchy?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 12, 2022
  • OTTAWA—The death of Queen Elizabeth at the age of 96 after 70 years as the Commonwealth’s reigning monarch was certainly not an unexpected shock.
The death of Queen Elizabeth might provide the Canadian military the catalyst to pull the plug and the unit names and traditions associated with the Royal Family and Canada’s colonial past, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia