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Scott Taylor

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

Is Canada at risk of being complicit in U.S. military crimes?

  • The recent U.S. navy attacks on shipping off the coast of Venezuela have raised concerns at DND headquarters in Ottawa. 
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 20, 2025
Canada has partnered with the U.S. on Operation Caribbe, a counter-narcotic effort in the Caribbean, since 2006. DND photograph by 12 Wing Imaging Services

Is Canada at risk of being complicit in U.S. military crimes?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 20, 2025
  • The recent U.S. navy attacks on shipping off the coast of Venezuela have raised concerns at DND headquarters in Ottawa. 

Is Canada at risk of being complicit in U.S. military crimes?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 20, 2025
  • The recent U.S. navy attacks on shipping off the coast of Venezuela have raised concerns at DND headquarters in Ottawa. 
Canada has partnered with the U.S. on Operation Caribbe, a counter-narcotic effort in the Caribbean, since 2006. DND photograph by 12 Wing Imaging Services

Accountability needed after forged documents used to smear journalist and compromise House committee

  • Now that documents used to allege that David Pugliese is a Russian spy have been debunked as forgeries, the Public Safety and National Security
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 13, 2025
Defence reporter David Pugliese, left, was left to defend himself after former Conservative cabinet minister Chris Alexander lobbed now-debunked allegations at an October 2024 House committee meeting that he was a foreign spy. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

Accountability needed after forged documents used to smear journalist and compromise House committee

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 13, 2025
  • Now that documents used to allege that David Pugliese is a Russian spy have been debunked as forgeries, the Public Safety and National Security

Accountability needed after forged documents used to smear journalist and compromise House committee

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 13, 2025
  • Now that documents used to allege that David Pugliese is a Russian spy have been debunked as forgeries, the Public Safety and National Security
Defence reporter David Pugliese, left, was left to defend himself after former Conservative cabinet minister Chris Alexander lobbed now-debunked allegations at an October 2024 House committee meeting that he was a foreign spy. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade and screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

Canada’s moves on procurement overshadowed as the U.S. prepares for war against its citizens

  • As important as Canadian defence issues might seem, what happens south of our border will have a far greater impact on our future as
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 6, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump told a group of assembled generals that their country was ‘under invasion from within’ on Sept. 30. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/PBS NewsHour

Canada’s moves on procurement overshadowed as the U.S. prepares for war against its citizens

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 6, 2025
  • As important as Canadian defence issues might seem, what happens south of our border will have a far greater impact on our future as

Canada’s moves on procurement overshadowed as the U.S. prepares for war against its citizens

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 6, 2025
  • As important as Canadian defence issues might seem, what happens south of our border will have a far greater impact on our future as
U.S. President Donald Trump told a group of assembled generals that their country was ‘under invasion from within’ on Sept. 30. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/PBS NewsHour

The Canadian Armed Forces is a shrinking tribe

  • With only roughly one in 684 Canadians serving in the regular forces, thinking that the country could mount any meaningful deployment to either Ukraine or Gaza
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 29, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke at the High-Level Segment of the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement on the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York on Sept. 22. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

The Canadian Armed Forces is a shrinking tribe

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 29, 2025
  • With only roughly one in 684 Canadians serving in the regular forces, thinking that the country could mount any meaningful deployment to either Ukraine or Gaza

The Canadian Armed Forces is a shrinking tribe

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 29, 2025
  • With only roughly one in 684 Canadians serving in the regular forces, thinking that the country could mount any meaningful deployment to either Ukraine or Gaza
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke at the High-Level Segment of the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement on the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York on Sept. 22. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

CAF leadership lacks courage

  • It's the responsibility of military brass to pound on the desks of their political masters to address shortcomings in the institution. Instead, they sugar
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 22, 2025
Canadian soldiers take part in Exercise Resolute Warrior in Latvia in 2024. A House of Commons committee recently heard that the Canadian Army does not have enough vehicles to support the forward deployed NATO mission in Latvia and conduct a similar-sized training exercise in Canada, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence/Cpl. Marc-André Leclerc

CAF leadership lacks courage

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 22, 2025
  • It's the responsibility of military brass to pound on the desks of their political masters to address shortcomings in the institution. Instead, they sugar

CAF leadership lacks courage

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 22, 2025
  • It's the responsibility of military brass to pound on the desks of their political masters to address shortcomings in the institution. Instead, they sugar
Canadian soldiers take part in Exercise Resolute Warrior in Latvia in 2024. A House of Commons committee recently heard that the Canadian Army does not have enough vehicles to support the forward deployed NATO mission in Latvia and conduct a similar-sized training exercise in Canada, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence/Cpl. Marc-André Leclerc

Future planning needed amid Canada’s defence budget boost

  • If we truly wish to provide a deterrent to Russian aggression, we need to learn from the ongoing war in Europe.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 15, 2025
Members of a CH-147F Chinook medical team with Operation Presence in Mali in 2018. With 14 CH-147F Chinooks remaining in RCAF service, Canada possesses a considerable aviation asset, but one suited to wage a counter-insurgency against a poorly equipped foe, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Canadian Forces Combat Camera/MCpl. Jennifer Kusche

Future planning needed amid Canada’s defence budget boost

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 15, 2025
  • If we truly wish to provide a deterrent to Russian aggression, we need to learn from the ongoing war in Europe.

Future planning needed amid Canada’s defence budget boost

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 15, 2025
  • If we truly wish to provide a deterrent to Russian aggression, we need to learn from the ongoing war in Europe.
Members of a CH-147F Chinook medical team with Operation Presence in Mali in 2018. With 14 CH-147F Chinooks remaining in RCAF service, Canada possesses a considerable aviation asset, but one suited to wage a counter-insurgency against a poorly equipped foe, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Canadian Forces Combat Camera/MCpl. Jennifer Kusche

A thin façade of combat capability

  • If your military cupboard is hurting, you can’t throw a coat of fresh paint on a disabled tank and pretend all is good for
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 8, 2025
It’s understandable that the military brass at Camp Adazi would try to impress Prime Minister Mark Carney, but it’s putting lipstick on a pig, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of X

A thin façade of combat capability

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 8, 2025
  • If your military cupboard is hurting, you can’t throw a coat of fresh paint on a disabled tank and pretend all is good for

A thin façade of combat capability

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 8, 2025
  • If your military cupboard is hurting, you can’t throw a coat of fresh paint on a disabled tank and pretend all is good for
It’s understandable that the military brass at Camp Adazi would try to impress Prime Minister Mark Carney, but it’s putting lipstick on a pig, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of X

Are we offering human bait in Ukraine?

  • Canada would need to acquire modern battlefield necessities before it can send any soldiers into Ukraine.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 1, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
If Prime Minister Mark Carney intends to actually put Canadian boots on the ground in Ukraine, he needs to make some tough decisions, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of X

Are we offering human bait in Ukraine?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 1, 2025
  • Canada would need to acquire modern battlefield necessities before it can send any soldiers into Ukraine.

Are we offering human bait in Ukraine?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 1, 2025
  • Canada would need to acquire modern battlefield necessities before it can send any soldiers into Ukraine.
Mark Carney
If Prime Minister Mark Carney intends to actually put Canadian boots on the ground in Ukraine, he needs to make some tough decisions, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of X

The hits keep coming for the CAF

  • If soldiers do know what the Nazi salute symbolizes and do it anyway, then they have no business wearing a Canadian uniform.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 25, 2025
Due to alleged soldier misconduct, Canada’s military has received three black eyes in rapid succession, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Brian Lindgren

The hits keep coming for the CAF

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 25, 2025
  • If soldiers do know what the Nazi salute symbolizes and do it anyway, then they have no business wearing a Canadian uniform.

The hits keep coming for the CAF

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 25, 2025
  • If soldiers do know what the Nazi salute symbolizes and do it anyway, then they have no business wearing a Canadian uniform.
Due to alleged soldier misconduct, Canada’s military has received three black eyes in rapid succession, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Brian Lindgren

The case for making national service mandatory

  • If one-year military engagements were part of a mandatory youth national service program, there would be a steady flow of new recruits for the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 18, 2025
A 12-month stint of required youth service with the military could be a much-enhanced version of the current Naval Experience Program, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Braden Trudeau

The case for making national service mandatory

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 18, 2025
  • If one-year military engagements were part of a mandatory youth national service program, there would be a steady flow of new recruits for the

The case for making national service mandatory

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 18, 2025
  • If one-year military engagements were part of a mandatory youth national service program, there would be a steady flow of new recruits for the
A 12-month stint of required youth service with the military could be a much-enhanced version of the current Naval Experience Program, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Braden Trudeau

It’s time to strike back at Trump’s tactics

  • Now that U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed whacked Canada with a whopping trade tariff, perhaps it's time to make sure that economic pain
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 11, 2025
There are downsides to cancelling the remainder of the F-35 purchase and operating a mixed fighter fleet into the future, but the savings may balance out, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Master Sgt. John R. Nimmo Sr.

It’s time to strike back at Trump’s tactics

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 11, 2025
  • Now that U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed whacked Canada with a whopping trade tariff, perhaps it's time to make sure that economic pain

It’s time to strike back at Trump’s tactics

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 11, 2025
  • Now that U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed whacked Canada with a whopping trade tariff, perhaps it's time to make sure that economic pain
There are downsides to cancelling the remainder of the F-35 purchase and operating a mixed fighter fleet into the future, but the savings may balance out, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Master Sgt. John R. Nimmo Sr.

The Armed Forces’ selective accountability

  • Two senior officers have already been sanctioned in the early days of the Blue Hackle Mafia affair, which contrasts oddly with previous military scandals.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 4, 2025
Heads have begun to roll in the ‘Blue Hackle Mafia’ scandal, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Facebook first published by The Ottawa Citizen

The Armed Forces’ selective accountability

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 4, 2025
  • Two senior officers have already been sanctioned in the early days of the Blue Hackle Mafia affair, which contrasts oddly with previous military scandals.

The Armed Forces’ selective accountability

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 4, 2025
  • Two senior officers have already been sanctioned in the early days of the Blue Hackle Mafia affair, which contrasts oddly with previous military scandals.
Heads have begun to roll in the ‘Blue Hackle Mafia’ scandal, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Facebook first published by The Ottawa Citizen

Sniffing out alleged terrorists in the military’s ranks

  • This is exactly what the hard-pressed CAF did not need at this juncture—another bad news story to throw on the pile.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 28, 2025
The RCMP arrested four men on July 8 who were allegedly involved in activities intending to forcibly take possession of land in the Québec City area. Military-style training in which the accused took part. Photograph courtesy of the RCMP

Sniffing out alleged terrorists in the military’s ranks

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 28, 2025
  • This is exactly what the hard-pressed CAF did not need at this juncture—another bad news story to throw on the pile.

Sniffing out alleged terrorists in the military’s ranks

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 28, 2025
  • This is exactly what the hard-pressed CAF did not need at this juncture—another bad news story to throw on the pile.
The RCMP arrested four men on July 8 who were allegedly involved in activities intending to forcibly take possession of land in the Québec City area. Military-style training in which the accused took part. Photograph courtesy of the RCMP

Standing on ceremony

  • With the current state of the Canadian Armed Forces, perhaps it is time to drop the historical re-enactment duties.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 21, 2025
Members of Lord Strathcona's Horse spent 10 days as the King’s Life Guard. Using regular force and reserve combat soldiers to parade in period costume is no longer necessary, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Standing on ceremony

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 21, 2025
  • With the current state of the Canadian Armed Forces, perhaps it is time to drop the historical re-enactment duties.

Standing on ceremony

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 21, 2025
  • With the current state of the Canadian Armed Forces, perhaps it is time to drop the historical re-enactment duties.
Members of Lord Strathcona's Horse spent 10 days as the King’s Life Guard. Using regular force and reserve combat soldiers to parade in period costume is no longer necessary, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Raising hackles: why can’t the CAF help stepping on their own dicks?

  • Protecting the military’s reputation should never take priority over actually handling an issue, like that of the service members involved in a Facebook group sharing
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 14, 2025
The self-proclaimed ‘Blue Hackle Mafia’ Facebook group posted images of male soldiers in uniform exposing their genitals, others posing naked with Canadian Forces weapons, or simulating sexual acts with each other in uniform. Photograph courtesy of Facebook first published by The Ottawa Citizen

Raising hackles: why can’t the CAF help stepping on their own dicks?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 14, 2025
  • Protecting the military’s reputation should never take priority over actually handling an issue, like that of the service members involved in a Facebook group sharing

Raising hackles: why can’t the CAF help stepping on their own dicks?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 14, 2025
  • Protecting the military’s reputation should never take priority over actually handling an issue, like that of the service members involved in a Facebook group sharing
The self-proclaimed ‘Blue Hackle Mafia’ Facebook group posted images of male soldiers in uniform exposing their genitals, others posing naked with Canadian Forces weapons, or simulating sexual acts with each other in uniform. Photograph courtesy of Facebook first published by The Ottawa Citizen

Is the CAF past the point of no return?

  • Perhaps the Liberals need to do more than make promises of massive budget increases if there are too few personnel left in uniform to
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 7, 2025
Senior leadership may be accurate in assessing a seven-year window to recover the military. However, in what universe can that be considered a plan, asks Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Brendan Gamache

Is the CAF past the point of no return?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 7, 2025
  • Perhaps the Liberals need to do more than make promises of massive budget increases if there are too few personnel left in uniform to

Is the CAF past the point of no return?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 7, 2025
  • Perhaps the Liberals need to do more than make promises of massive budget increases if there are too few personnel left in uniform to
Senior leadership may be accurate in assessing a seven-year window to recover the military. However, in what universe can that be considered a plan, asks Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Brendan Gamache

Investing in critical minerals would be a win-win for Canada

  • An investment in tungsten production could benefit all of our NATO allies, allowing them to source Canadian rather than Chinese tungsten.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 30, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, with U.S. President Donald Trump at the recent G7 Summit in Alberta. Carney has indicated that defence infrastructure investment could include things like the development of Canada's critical minerals, notes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Canada

Investing in critical minerals would be a win-win for Canada

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 30, 2025
  • An investment in tungsten production could benefit all of our NATO allies, allowing them to source Canadian rather than Chinese tungsten.

Investing in critical minerals would be a win-win for Canada

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 30, 2025
  • An investment in tungsten production could benefit all of our NATO allies, allowing them to source Canadian rather than Chinese tungsten.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, with U.S. President Donald Trump at the recent G7 Summit in Alberta. Carney has indicated that defence infrastructure investment could include things like the development of Canada's critical minerals, notes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Canada

Time to walk the walk

  • A clear way to demonstrate to Canadians that he is not simply posturing would be for PM Mark Carney to cancel the remaining F-35 order.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2025
There's an ongoing review of Canada’s acquisition of 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen

Time to walk the walk

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2025
  • A clear way to demonstrate to Canadians that he is not simply posturing would be for PM Mark Carney to cancel the remaining F-35 order.

Time to walk the walk

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2025
  • A clear way to demonstrate to Canadians that he is not simply posturing would be for PM Mark Carney to cancel the remaining F-35 order.
There's an ongoing review of Canada’s acquisition of 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen

Carney’s CAF spending spree

  • Unfortunately, the one resource which the military is critically lacking is something that cannot be easily bought: trained personnel.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 16, 2025
A bigger paycheque may cause some existing soldiers to stick around, but simply wearing a uniform does not provide relief for the burnt-out personnel who are trades qualified, and in high demand for operations, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician

Carney’s CAF spending spree

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 16, 2025
  • Unfortunately, the one resource which the military is critically lacking is something that cannot be easily bought: trained personnel.

Carney’s CAF spending spree

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 16, 2025
  • Unfortunately, the one resource which the military is critically lacking is something that cannot be easily bought: trained personnel.
A bigger paycheque may cause some existing soldiers to stick around, but simply wearing a uniform does not provide relief for the burnt-out personnel who are trades qualified, and in high demand for operations, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician

How soon should we expect this ‘immediate’ military overhaul?

  • The defence minister said the feds will take ‘immediate and decisive action to rebuild Canada's defence capacity’—but announced nothing further.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2025
David McGuinty
David McGuinty
In Europe, Defence Minister David McGuinty backed away from the word ‘immediate,’ noting the federal government will have more to say ‘very soon’ about its plans, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

How soon should we expect this ‘immediate’ military overhaul?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2025
  • The defence minister said the feds will take ‘immediate and decisive action to rebuild Canada's defence capacity’—but announced nothing further.

How soon should we expect this ‘immediate’ military overhaul?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2025
  • The defence minister said the feds will take ‘immediate and decisive action to rebuild Canada's defence capacity’—but announced nothing further.
David McGuinty
In Europe, Defence Minister David McGuinty backed away from the word ‘immediate,’ noting the federal government will have more to say ‘very soon’ about its plans, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The misadventures of Navy procurement

  • Successive governments routinely state ‘nothing is too good for our military,’ and therefore ‘nothing’ is what they get.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2025
Canadian and French helicopters sit on the flight deck of the Mistral off the coast of Gaspé, Que., on June 20, 2014. DND photograph by MCpl Patrick Blanchard

The misadventures of Navy procurement

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2025
  • Successive governments routinely state ‘nothing is too good for our military,’ and therefore ‘nothing’ is what they get.

The misadventures of Navy procurement

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2025
  • Successive governments routinely state ‘nothing is too good for our military,’ and therefore ‘nothing’ is what they get.
Canadian and French helicopters sit on the flight deck of the Mistral off the coast of Gaspé, Que., on June 20, 2014. DND photograph by MCpl Patrick Blanchard

Soldiers left out in the cold—again

  • Despite all the bluster about defending our Arctic, our military procurement system is proving incapable of providing resources durable enough for use in our
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2025
Perhaps we need to better highlight those multimillion-dollar contracts that just piss away money on equipment that is unusable in the North, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Sailor Dan Bard

Soldiers left out in the cold—again

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2025
  • Despite all the bluster about defending our Arctic, our military procurement system is proving incapable of providing resources durable enough for use in our

Soldiers left out in the cold—again

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2025
  • Despite all the bluster about defending our Arctic, our military procurement system is proving incapable of providing resources durable enough for use in our
Perhaps we need to better highlight those multimillion-dollar contracts that just piss away money on equipment that is unusable in the North, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Sailor Dan Bard

New defence minister, same old woes

  • Defence Minister David McGuinty is going to need a lot of support from Carney's Liberal government to truly right the CAF ship.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 21, 2025
David McGuinty brings a modicum of cabinet experience and a modicum of intelligence awareness to his new defence portfolio, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

New defence minister, same old woes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 21, 2025
  • Defence Minister David McGuinty is going to need a lot of support from Carney's Liberal government to truly right the CAF ship.

New defence minister, same old woes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 21, 2025
  • Defence Minister David McGuinty is going to need a lot of support from Carney's Liberal government to truly right the CAF ship.
David McGuinty brings a modicum of cabinet experience and a modicum of intelligence awareness to his new defence portfolio, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Martial pride on parade

  • Trump's planned spectacle will look like amateur hour compared to what Russia, China, and North Korea routinely stage for their masses.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2025
The U.S. president is handing international viewers a direct comparison of his country’s military fitness, drill, and deportment against the super well-rehearsed Russian showboats, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Dmitriy Fomin

Martial pride on parade

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2025
  • Trump's planned spectacle will look like amateur hour compared to what Russia, China, and North Korea routinely stage for their masses.

Martial pride on parade

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2025
  • Trump's planned spectacle will look like amateur hour compared to what Russia, China, and North Korea routinely stage for their masses.
The U.S. president is handing international viewers a direct comparison of his country’s military fitness, drill, and deportment against the super well-rehearsed Russian showboats, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Dmitriy Fomin

Can the Canadian Forces avoid getting goosed by wild geese?

  • Perhaps our military planners could avoid a repeat of this year's Canada goose dilemma by having service dogs on the Carling Campus grounds.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2025
Residents of our nation's capital are all-too aware of how threatening these geese can be during the spring mating season after they have laid their eggs, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Sunny

Can the Canadian Forces avoid getting goosed by wild geese?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2025
  • Perhaps our military planners could avoid a repeat of this year's Canada goose dilemma by having service dogs on the Carling Campus grounds.

Can the Canadian Forces avoid getting goosed by wild geese?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2025
  • Perhaps our military planners could avoid a repeat of this year's Canada goose dilemma by having service dogs on the Carling Campus grounds.
Residents of our nation's capital are all-too aware of how threatening these geese can be during the spring mating season after they have laid their eggs, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Sunny

Canada’s sub-standard submarines

  • Can the Royal Canadian Navy really lose a capability that it doesn't actually possess?
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 28, 2025
HMCS Windsor takes part in Exercise Cutlass Fury on Sept. 18, 2016. It is the only one of Canada's four Victoria-class submarines that has been to sea since 2021, notes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of DND/Cpl. Chris Ringius

Canada’s sub-standard submarines

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 28, 2025
  • Can the Royal Canadian Navy really lose a capability that it doesn't actually possess?

Canada’s sub-standard submarines

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 28, 2025
  • Can the Royal Canadian Navy really lose a capability that it doesn't actually possess?
HMCS Windsor takes part in Exercise Cutlass Fury on Sept. 18, 2016. It is the only one of Canada's four Victoria-class submarines that has been to sea since 2021, notes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of DND/Cpl. Chris Ringius

Federal election brings new crop of defence promises to break

  • Both governing parties have a proven track record of neglecting Canada's national defence and veterans.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 21, 2025
Whichever way you cast your vote in the coming election, do not believe the promises made regarding defence investment, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Corporal Alana Morin

Federal election brings new crop of defence promises to break

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 21, 2025
  • Both governing parties have a proven track record of neglecting Canada's national defence and veterans.

Federal election brings new crop of defence promises to break

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 21, 2025
  • Both governing parties have a proven track record of neglecting Canada's national defence and veterans.
Whichever way you cast your vote in the coming election, do not believe the promises made regarding defence investment, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Corporal Alana Morin
More Stories

Call in the RCMP to dig military police out of no-win scenario

  • OTTAWA—It was on Sunday, Feb. 2 that the current military sexual misconduct scandal first emerged. Global News reporter Mercedes Stephenson broke the story that
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2021
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is pictured at September 2019 Ottawa press conference. The RCMP should be called in to conduct an independent investigation into the various misconduct allegations against military leaders, writes Scott Taylor, to pre-empt any public perception that the process is tainted. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Call in the RCMP to dig military police out of no-win scenario

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2021
  • OTTAWA—It was on Sunday, Feb. 2 that the current military sexual misconduct scandal first emerged. Global News reporter Mercedes Stephenson broke the story that

Call in the RCMP to dig military police out of no-win scenario

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2021
  • OTTAWA—It was on Sunday, Feb. 2 that the current military sexual misconduct scandal first emerged. Global News reporter Mercedes Stephenson broke the story that
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is pictured at September 2019 Ottawa press conference. The RCMP should be called in to conduct an independent investigation into the various misconduct allegations against military leaders, writes Scott Taylor, to pre-empt any public perception that the process is tainted. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Memo reveals Iraq prophecy come to fruition

  • On June 9, the Canadian Press reported on a memo which they had obtained from the Department of National Defence under the Access-to-Information law.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 14, 2021
In a September 2018 column about the then-impending training mission, Scott Taylor included a side note to Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, pictured right with then-Major General Jennie Carignan at a November 2019 change of command ceremony in Iraq, which read: ‘I cannot wish you success in your mission because you are embarked on a fool’s errand. Training more Iraqis to kill in the name of a corrupt regime is insane.’ DND photograph by Cpl. Ryan Moulton

Memo reveals Iraq prophecy come to fruition

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 14, 2021
  • On June 9, the Canadian Press reported on a memo which they had obtained from the Department of National Defence under the Access-to-Information law.

Memo reveals Iraq prophecy come to fruition

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 14, 2021
  • On June 9, the Canadian Press reported on a memo which they had obtained from the Department of National Defence under the Access-to-Information law.
In a September 2018 column about the then-impending training mission, Scott Taylor included a side note to Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, pictured right with then-Major General Jennie Carignan at a November 2019 change of command ceremony in Iraq, which read: ‘I cannot wish you success in your mission because you are embarked on a fool’s errand. Training more Iraqis to kill in the name of a corrupt regime is insane.’ DND photograph by Cpl. Ryan Moulton

Papering over the ‘cracks’ not a long-term solution to CAF woes

  • OTTAWA—Last week, in an interview with the Canadian Press, Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, Canada’s acting chief of the defence staff, admitted that the Canadian military
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2021
Brigadier-General Krista Brodie, left, was named the head of the country’s vaccine rollout effort, and Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, right, was tapped as the new head of professional conduct and culture. These recent promotions will definitely change the face of the ‘old boys’ club,’ which was previously the composition of our senior military leadership. However, this in itself will not be enough to change an institutional culture that has been defined as highly sexualized, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of Parlvu, photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

Papering over the ‘cracks’ not a long-term solution to CAF woes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, in an interview with the Canadian Press, Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, Canada’s acting chief of the defence staff, admitted that the Canadian military

Papering over the ‘cracks’ not a long-term solution to CAF woes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, in an interview with the Canadian Press, Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, Canada’s acting chief of the defence staff, admitted that the Canadian military
Brigadier-General Krista Brodie, left, was named the head of the country’s vaccine rollout effort, and Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, right, was tapped as the new head of professional conduct and culture. These recent promotions will definitely change the face of the ‘old boys’ club,’ which was previously the composition of our senior military leadership. However, this in itself will not be enough to change an institutional culture that has been defined as highly sexualized, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of Parlvu, photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

Lukashenko’s ‘lose-lose’ air caper

  • OTTAWA—On May 23, a Ryanair flight from Athens, Greece, en route to Vilnius, Lithuania, was diverted while in Belarus airspace and forced to land
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2021
If the flight diversion and arrest of Roman Protasevich was in fact an elaborate and diabolical plot conceived by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, he has to be one of the dumbest dictators to ever rule a country, writes Scott Taylor. Wikimedia Commons photograph by Serge Serebro

Lukashenko’s ‘lose-lose’ air caper

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2021
  • OTTAWA—On May 23, a Ryanair flight from Athens, Greece, en route to Vilnius, Lithuania, was diverted while in Belarus airspace and forced to land

Lukashenko’s ‘lose-lose’ air caper

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2021
  • OTTAWA—On May 23, a Ryanair flight from Athens, Greece, en route to Vilnius, Lithuania, was diverted while in Belarus airspace and forced to land
If the flight diversion and arrest of Roman Protasevich was in fact an elaborate and diabolical plot conceived by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, he has to be one of the dumbest dictators to ever rule a country, writes Scott Taylor. Wikimedia Commons photograph by Serge Serebro

Court of public opinion swifter than military investigative processes

  • OTTAWA—Late in the afternoon of Friday, May 14, the Department of National Defence issued a curt, three-line press release announcing that Major-General Dany Fortin
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2021
The Fortin saga has, of course, sparked the opposition parties to demand answers of who-knew-what-when among the top Trudeau Liberals, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Court of public opinion swifter than military investigative processes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Late in the afternoon of Friday, May 14, the Department of National Defence issued a curt, three-line press release announcing that Major-General Dany Fortin

Court of public opinion swifter than military investigative processes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Late in the afternoon of Friday, May 14, the Department of National Defence issued a curt, three-line press release announcing that Major-General Dany Fortin
The Fortin saga has, of course, sparked the opposition parties to demand answers of who-knew-what-when among the top Trudeau Liberals, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

See-no-evil approach puts good soldiers in a tough spot

  • OTTAWA—Last week, a very disturbing story surfaced in the media which once again clearly illustrates how the Canadian military leadership is totally out of
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 19, 2021
Canadian Armed Forces infantrymen deployed on Joint Task Force Operation-Impact board a CC-130J Hercules for Iraq to begin their seven-month tour, at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait on Nov. 27, 2019. On March 30, Canada extended Operation Impact, the mission to Iraq and the Middle East, for one more year. DND photograph by Cpl. Jerome Lessard

See-no-evil approach puts good soldiers in a tough spot

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 19, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, a very disturbing story surfaced in the media which once again clearly illustrates how the Canadian military leadership is totally out of

See-no-evil approach puts good soldiers in a tough spot

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 19, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, a very disturbing story surfaced in the media which once again clearly illustrates how the Canadian military leadership is totally out of
Canadian Armed Forces infantrymen deployed on Joint Task Force Operation-Impact board a CC-130J Hercules for Iraq to begin their seven-month tour, at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait on Nov. 27, 2019. On March 30, Canada extended Operation Impact, the mission to Iraq and the Middle East, for one more year. DND photograph by Cpl. Jerome Lessard

Controversial parade not the way to honour Ukraine’s contribution to Second World War

  • OTTAWA—On April 28, approximately 250 people marched through the streets of Kiev, Ukraine, to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Second World War Waffen
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2021
A recruitment poster from a 1943 SS Galicia newspaper. For those who would paint the SS Galicia volunteers as fighters for Ukraine’s independence, this theory cannot be justified in view of the fact they actually fought against civilian patriots in Slovakia and Slovenia to enforce Hitler’s Nazi occupation, writes Scott Taylor. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Controversial parade not the way to honour Ukraine’s contribution to Second World War

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2021
  • OTTAWA—On April 28, approximately 250 people marched through the streets of Kiev, Ukraine, to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Second World War Waffen

Controversial parade not the way to honour Ukraine’s contribution to Second World War

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2021
  • OTTAWA—On April 28, approximately 250 people marched through the streets of Kiev, Ukraine, to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Second World War Waffen
A recruitment poster from a 1943 SS Galicia newspaper. For those who would paint the SS Galicia volunteers as fighters for Ukraine’s independence, this theory cannot be justified in view of the fact they actually fought against civilian patriots in Slovakia and Slovenia to enforce Hitler’s Nazi occupation, writes Scott Taylor. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Suffering from PTSD should not be a literal ‘get out of jail free’ card

  • OTTAWA—Last week, yet another disturbing story surfaced regarding the military and sexual misconduct. A retired Special Forces major told the CBC that he felt
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2021
One can easily understand the sense of betrayal Annalise and Kevin Schamuhn must have felt when they were victimized, and both Kevin’s commanding officer and his regimental officer showed support to his attacker, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Suffering from PTSD should not be a literal ‘get out of jail free’ card

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, yet another disturbing story surfaced regarding the military and sexual misconduct. A retired Special Forces major told the CBC that he felt

Suffering from PTSD should not be a literal ‘get out of jail free’ card

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, yet another disturbing story surfaced regarding the military and sexual misconduct. A retired Special Forces major told the CBC that he felt
One can easily understand the sense of betrayal Annalise and Kevin Schamuhn must have felt when they were victimized, and both Kevin’s commanding officer and his regimental officer showed support to his attacker, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

If allegations against Vance prove true, there’s a lot of explaining to do

  • OTTAWA—The more bombshell revelations that drop in the military sexual misconduct scandal, the more one understands the scale of the complicity of those who
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 28, 2021
Then-chief of defence staff General Jonathan Vance is pictured during a press conference on the Hill on April 30, 2020. If Brennan’s allegations prove to be true—and to be fair, Vance has maintained he has done nothing wrong, including fathering any of Brennan’s children—there will be a lot of people who will have some explaining to do, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

If allegations against Vance prove true, there’s a lot of explaining to do

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 28, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The more bombshell revelations that drop in the military sexual misconduct scandal, the more one understands the scale of the complicity of those who

If allegations against Vance prove true, there’s a lot of explaining to do

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 28, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The more bombshell revelations that drop in the military sexual misconduct scandal, the more one understands the scale of the complicity of those who
Then-chief of defence staff General Jonathan Vance is pictured during a press conference on the Hill on April 30, 2020. If Brennan’s allegations prove to be true—and to be fair, Vance has maintained he has done nothing wrong, including fathering any of Brennan’s children—there will be a lot of people who will have some explaining to do, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

U.S. finally admitting defeat in unwinnable war

  • OTTAWA—Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden finally admitted that the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable. Starting in May, the remaining American troops—roughly 3,500—will begin
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 21, 2021
U.S. Army Capt. Kevin Mercer, the officer in charge of the 205th Corps Training Team, observes as an Afghan National Army trainer adjusts the site on an M-16 rifle in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Jan. 23, 2008. Without the martial ‘stiffening’ supplied by U.S. special forces and the availability of American air support, the Afghan security forces are no match for the Taliban, writes Scott Taylor. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek

U.S. finally admitting defeat in unwinnable war

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 21, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden finally admitted that the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable. Starting in May, the remaining American troops—roughly 3,500—will begin

U.S. finally admitting defeat in unwinnable war

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 21, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden finally admitted that the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable. Starting in May, the remaining American troops—roughly 3,500—will begin
U.S. Army Capt. Kevin Mercer, the officer in charge of the 205th Corps Training Team, observes as an Afghan National Army trainer adjusts the site on an M-16 rifle in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Jan. 23, 2008. Without the martial ‘stiffening’ supplied by U.S. special forces and the availability of American air support, the Afghan security forces are no match for the Taliban, writes Scott Taylor. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek

Finding proper leadership is only a matter of time

  • OTTAWA—The repetitious routine that has become the pandemic norm gives one the false sense that society has been put on hold. However, one need
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 12, 2021
Former chief of defence staff General Rick Hillier, pictured in April with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, right, and other Ontario government officials, left his role as head of the province’s vaccine distribution task force at the end of March. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Finding proper leadership is only a matter of time

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 12, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The repetitious routine that has become the pandemic norm gives one the false sense that society has been put on hold. However, one need

Finding proper leadership is only a matter of time

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 12, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The repetitious routine that has become the pandemic norm gives one the false sense that society has been put on hold. However, one need
Former chief of defence staff General Rick Hillier, pictured in April with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, right, and other Ontario government officials, left his role as head of the province’s vaccine distribution task force at the end of March. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Aesthetic display of skills not worth the human, financial cost

  • OTTAWA—In the past week, the RCAF’s famed Snowbirds air demonstration squadron has found itself in the media spotlight on two separate occasions. The first
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2021
The Tutor training planes are unarmed and cannot in any way contribute to the defence of our nation. Plus, by their very nature, acrobatic formation stunt fliers put themselves and their aircraft at great risk, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Sergeant Robert Bottrill

Aesthetic display of skills not worth the human, financial cost

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2021
  • OTTAWA—In the past week, the RCAF’s famed Snowbirds air demonstration squadron has found itself in the media spotlight on two separate occasions. The first

Aesthetic display of skills not worth the human, financial cost

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2021
  • OTTAWA—In the past week, the RCAF’s famed Snowbirds air demonstration squadron has found itself in the media spotlight on two separate occasions. The first
The Tutor training planes are unarmed and cannot in any way contribute to the defence of our nation. Plus, by their very nature, acrobatic formation stunt fliers put themselves and their aircraft at great risk, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Sergeant Robert Bottrill

CAF crisis a case study in attracting the wrong kind of global focus

  • OTTAWA—This past week saw the burgeoning military sexual misconduct scandal continue to spiral out of control. Inspired by what many are referring to as
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2021
In a March 10 Facebook video, retired Corporal Sherry Bordage outlined her experience with sexual assault in the military, the latest in a string of survivors coming forward as part of the Canadian Armed Forces’ 'Me Too' moment, as victims who were long silenced and sidelined are finding their voice, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of Facebook

CAF crisis a case study in attracting the wrong kind of global focus

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2021
  • OTTAWA—This past week saw the burgeoning military sexual misconduct scandal continue to spiral out of control. Inspired by what many are referring to as

CAF crisis a case study in attracting the wrong kind of global focus

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2021
  • OTTAWA—This past week saw the burgeoning military sexual misconduct scandal continue to spiral out of control. Inspired by what many are referring to as
In a March 10 Facebook video, retired Corporal Sherry Bordage outlined her experience with sexual assault in the military, the latest in a string of survivors coming forward as part of the Canadian Armed Forces’ 'Me Too' moment, as victims who were long silenced and sidelined are finding their voice, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of Facebook

As the hits keep coming, disillusioned Forces members hope for change

  • OTTAWA—Last week, the Canadian military was dealt another blow on the sexual misconduct front when a senior female officer wrote that she was resigning
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2021
Canadian Armed Forces medical staff deployed on Operation Nanook-Nunalivut conduct patient loading drills in Yellowknife, N.W.T., on March 2. If any organization knows how to effect short-term culture change it is the military. After all, 10 weeks of recruit school converts civilians into soldiers, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Tori Lake

As the hits keep coming, disillusioned Forces members hope for change

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, the Canadian military was dealt another blow on the sexual misconduct front when a senior female officer wrote that she was resigning

As the hits keep coming, disillusioned Forces members hope for change

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, the Canadian military was dealt another blow on the sexual misconduct front when a senior female officer wrote that she was resigning
Canadian Armed Forces medical staff deployed on Operation Nanook-Nunalivut conduct patient loading drills in Yellowknife, N.W.T., on March 2. If any organization knows how to effect short-term culture change it is the military. After all, 10 weeks of recruit school converts civilians into soldiers, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Tori Lake

Winding web of impropriety allegations comes full circle

  • OTTAWA—For many casual observers of Canada’s military, the recent deluge of media reports alleging sexual misconduct at the highest levels comes as a disturbing
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2021
What was far more alarming about Maj. Kellie Brennan comments during her Feb. 21 interview with Mercedes Stephenson was her allegation that when this story first broke, former CDS Gen. Jonathan Vance had urged her to lie to the media. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/Global News

Winding web of impropriety allegations comes full circle

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2021
  • OTTAWA—For many casual observers of Canada’s military, the recent deluge of media reports alleging sexual misconduct at the highest levels comes as a disturbing

Winding web of impropriety allegations comes full circle

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2021
  • OTTAWA—For many casual observers of Canada’s military, the recent deluge of media reports alleging sexual misconduct at the highest levels comes as a disturbing
What was far more alarming about Maj. Kellie Brennan comments during her Feb. 21 interview with Mercedes Stephenson was her allegation that when this story first broke, former CDS Gen. Jonathan Vance had urged her to lie to the media. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/Global News

Committee testimony not providing clarity on who made the right call in the Vance affair

  • OTTAWA—Last week, the burgeoning military sexual misconduct scandal was highlighted by the appearance of former Canadian Forces ombudsman Gary Walbourne before a parliamentary committee.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2021
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, left, and former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne, right, have both testified before the House National Defence Committee in recent weeks about their actions in relation to allegations of sexual impropriety levelled against former chief of the defence staff Jonathan Vance. Screenshots via ParlVu

Committee testimony not providing clarity on who made the right call in the Vance affair

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, the burgeoning military sexual misconduct scandal was highlighted by the appearance of former Canadian Forces ombudsman Gary Walbourne before a parliamentary committee.

Committee testimony not providing clarity on who made the right call in the Vance affair

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, the burgeoning military sexual misconduct scandal was highlighted by the appearance of former Canadian Forces ombudsman Gary Walbourne before a parliamentary committee.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, left, and former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne, right, have both testified before the House National Defence Committee in recent weeks about their actions in relation to allegations of sexual impropriety levelled against former chief of the defence staff Jonathan Vance. Screenshots via ParlVu

McDonald’s promise to hear misconduct allegations reverberated louder than expected

  • OTTAWA—There is a classic scene in the 1996 Hollywood film Michael Collins wherein the newly appointed head of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) vows
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2021
New Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Art McDonald, pictured at the Jan. 14 change of command ceremony, sent a Feb. 24 email to military personnel assuring anyone wishing to bring forward allegations of misconduct that they could expect to be heard, supported, and protected. DND photograph by CpI. Rachael Allen

McDonald’s promise to hear misconduct allegations reverberated louder than expected

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2021
  • OTTAWA—There is a classic scene in the 1996 Hollywood film Michael Collins wherein the newly appointed head of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) vows

McDonald’s promise to hear misconduct allegations reverberated louder than expected

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2021
  • OTTAWA—There is a classic scene in the 1996 Hollywood film Michael Collins wherein the newly appointed head of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) vows
New Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Art McDonald, pictured at the Jan. 14 change of command ceremony, sent a Feb. 24 email to military personnel assuring anyone wishing to bring forward allegations of misconduct that they could expect to be heard, supported, and protected. DND photograph by CpI. Rachael Allen

Raucous junket flight cost military more than price of admission

  • OTTAWA—In the category of understating the obvious, last week, the Department of National Defence released the results of an audit. The auditors’ findings concluded
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2021
Retired Gen. Jonathan Vance, the former chief of the defence staff, initially defended the value of the VIP tours, which came under scrutiny after the 2017 ‘party flight.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Raucous junket flight cost military more than price of admission

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2021
  • OTTAWA—In the category of understating the obvious, last week, the Department of National Defence released the results of an audit. The auditors’ findings concluded

Raucous junket flight cost military more than price of admission

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2021
  • OTTAWA—In the category of understating the obvious, last week, the Department of National Defence released the results of an audit. The auditors’ findings concluded
Retired Gen. Jonathan Vance, the former chief of the defence staff, initially defended the value of the VIP tours, which came under scrutiny after the 2017 ‘party flight.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

As the hits keep coming for Vance, so do the political questions

  • OTTAWA—For General Jonathan Vance, it seems that the hits just keep on coming these days. On Jan. 14, Vance stepped down from his post
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 17, 2021
While Gen. Jonathan Vance had not been charged with any crime, the fact that his alleged actions in Italy had been investigated by the CFNIS should have given the Harper Conservatives some cause for concern, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

As the hits keep coming for Vance, so do the political questions

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 17, 2021
  • OTTAWA—For General Jonathan Vance, it seems that the hits just keep on coming these days. On Jan. 14, Vance stepped down from his post

As the hits keep coming for Vance, so do the political questions

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 17, 2021
  • OTTAWA—For General Jonathan Vance, it seems that the hits just keep on coming these days. On Jan. 14, Vance stepped down from his post
While Gen. Jonathan Vance had not been charged with any crime, the fact that his alleged actions in Italy had been investigated by the CFNIS should have given the Harper Conservatives some cause for concern, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Political players may also need to be looked at in investigation of allegations against Vance

  • OTTAWA—What a difference two weeks can make in the cut-throat world of Ottawa politics. On Jan. 14, General Jonathan Vance officially stepped down as
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 10, 2021
Gen. Jonathan Vance, former chief of the defence staff, is accused of having inappropriate relations with lower-ranked female military staff. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Political players may also need to be looked at in investigation of allegations against Vance

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 10, 2021
  • OTTAWA—What a difference two weeks can make in the cut-throat world of Ottawa politics. On Jan. 14, General Jonathan Vance officially stepped down as

Political players may also need to be looked at in investigation of allegations against Vance

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 10, 2021
  • OTTAWA—What a difference two weeks can make in the cut-throat world of Ottawa politics. On Jan. 14, General Jonathan Vance officially stepped down as
Gen. Jonathan Vance, former chief of the defence staff, is accused of having inappropriate relations with lower-ranked female military staff. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

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