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Scott Taylor

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

The rush to re-arm the Army

  • As military defence procurements go, the plan to purchase new rifles for the CAF is something of a no-brainer.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 15, 2025
If the Canadian Modular Assault Rifle program were ramped up, the country would actually have the genesis of a national defence force worthy of the name, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Private Kareen Brochu-Harvey

The rush to re-arm the Army

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 15, 2025
  • As military defence procurements go, the plan to purchase new rifles for the CAF is something of a no-brainer.

The rush to re-arm the Army

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 15, 2025
  • As military defence procurements go, the plan to purchase new rifles for the CAF is something of a no-brainer.
If the Canadian Modular Assault Rifle program were ramped up, the country would actually have the genesis of a national defence force worthy of the name, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Private Kareen Brochu-Harvey

Between a rock and a hard place

  • Canada’s latest contribution to a Ukraine aid package will once again reward U.S. firms while the Trump administration is trying to force Ukraine to
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 8, 2025
Defence Minister David McGuinty. The money Canada and allies are donating to the Ukraine war effort is actually being spent in the U.S. to buy the weapons and ammunition that only the Americans can produce in the quantity necessary, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Between a rock and a hard place

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 8, 2025
  • Canada’s latest contribution to a Ukraine aid package will once again reward U.S. firms while the Trump administration is trying to force Ukraine to

Between a rock and a hard place

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 8, 2025
  • Canada’s latest contribution to a Ukraine aid package will once again reward U.S. firms while the Trump administration is trying to force Ukraine to
Defence Minister David McGuinty. The money Canada and allies are donating to the Ukraine war effort is actually being spent in the U.S. to buy the weapons and ammunition that only the Americans can produce in the quantity necessary, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

F-35 fighter purchase takes flak

  • The Air Force brass can’t control public perception and the longer this Gripen versus F-35 debate continues, the more people become aware of the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 1, 2025
There appears to be some wiggle room for Canada to back out of the full program to buy American jets to replace Canada’s aging fleet of CF-18 Hornets, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Sgt. Norm McLean

F-35 fighter purchase takes flak

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 1, 2025
  • The Air Force brass can’t control public perception and the longer this Gripen versus F-35 debate continues, the more people become aware of the

F-35 fighter purchase takes flak

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 1, 2025
  • The Air Force brass can’t control public perception and the longer this Gripen versus F-35 debate continues, the more people become aware of the
There appears to be some wiggle room for Canada to back out of the full program to buy American jets to replace Canada’s aging fleet of CF-18 Hornets, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Sgt. Norm McLean

The future fighter debate

  • Saab’s fighter jet offer must be music to the ears of those Canadians who truly want to send a message of patriotic defiance to
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 24, 2025
The fight over who gets to replace Canada’s aging fleet of CF-18 Hornets heated up recently, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Sgt. Norm McLean

The future fighter debate

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 24, 2025
  • Saab’s fighter jet offer must be music to the ears of those Canadians who truly want to send a message of patriotic defiance to

The future fighter debate

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 24, 2025
  • Saab’s fighter jet offer must be music to the ears of those Canadians who truly want to send a message of patriotic defiance to
The fight over who gets to replace Canada’s aging fleet of CF-18 Hornets heated up recently, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Sgt. Norm McLean

Chief of defence staff in full retreat

  • To try and deny or diminish your own comments once they have been ridiculed in public is not good leadership.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 17, 2025
One has to wonder what sort of advice Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan is getting from her current legion of public affairs experts, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Chief of defence staff in full retreat

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 17, 2025
  • To try and deny or diminish your own comments once they have been ridiculed in public is not good leadership.

Chief of defence staff in full retreat

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 17, 2025
  • To try and deny or diminish your own comments once they have been ridiculed in public is not good leadership.
One has to wonder what sort of advice Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan is getting from her current legion of public affairs experts, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is our military ready to be a half a million strong?

  • Before looking to enlist hundreds of thousands more soldiers, the CAF needs to start taking proper care of those already in uniform.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 10, 2025
Jennie Carignan
Jennie Carignan
Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan recently told MPs that the Canadian Armed Forces is on track to recruit 7,000 personnel this fiscal year, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is our military ready to be a half a million strong?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 10, 2025
  • Before looking to enlist hundreds of thousands more soldiers, the CAF needs to start taking proper care of those already in uniform.

Is our military ready to be a half a million strong?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 10, 2025
  • Before looking to enlist hundreds of thousands more soldiers, the CAF needs to start taking proper care of those already in uniform.
Jennie Carignan
Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan recently told MPs that the Canadian Armed Forces is on track to recruit 7,000 personnel this fiscal year, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The CAF’s emotional apology for racism

  • The general consensus at the Oct. 30 ceremony was that this emotional apology is a starting point, not the closure of an historical chapter.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 3, 2025
Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan delivered the Canadian Armed Forces’ formal apology for racial discrimination and harassment suffered by current and former members of the military on Oct. 30. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The CAF’s emotional apology for racism

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 3, 2025
  • The general consensus at the Oct. 30 ceremony was that this emotional apology is a starting point, not the closure of an historical chapter.

The CAF’s emotional apology for racism

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 3, 2025
  • The general consensus at the Oct. 30 ceremony was that this emotional apology is a starting point, not the closure of an historical chapter.
Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan delivered the Canadian Armed Forces’ formal apology for racial discrimination and harassment suffered by current and former members of the military on Oct. 30. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Room for improvement in the CAF? Yeah, I’ll say

  • There is a time-honoured tradition when it comes to Canada's defence procurement: seeing is believing.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 27, 2025
Jennie Carignan
Jennie Carignan
Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan is doing her best to point to the progress being made, but the fact is that the Canadian military needs nearly everything in their inventory replaced—yesterday, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Room for improvement in the CAF? Yeah, I’ll say

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 27, 2025
  • There is a time-honoured tradition when it comes to Canada's defence procurement: seeing is believing.

Room for improvement in the CAF? Yeah, I’ll say

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 27, 2025
  • There is a time-honoured tradition when it comes to Canada's defence procurement: seeing is believing.
Jennie Carignan
Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan is doing her best to point to the progress being made, but the fact is that the Canadian military needs nearly everything in their inventory replaced—yesterday, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

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
More Stories

Banning tattooed soldiers only scratches the surface of potential problem recruits

  • OTTAWA—What started out as an almost comical, albeit embarrassing, incident in Halifax has led the Canadian Armed Forces to once again amend their policy
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 21, 2019
On Aug. 12, Gen. Jonathan Vance issued new guidelines warning against tattoos on military members of anything considered to be sexually explicit, discriminatory, racist, extremist, homophobic, misogynistic, sexist, or evidence of membership in a criminal organization. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Banning tattooed soldiers only scratches the surface of potential problem recruits

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 21, 2019
  • OTTAWA—What started out as an almost comical, albeit embarrassing, incident in Halifax has led the Canadian Armed Forces to once again amend their policy

Banning tattooed soldiers only scratches the surface of potential problem recruits

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 21, 2019
  • OTTAWA—What started out as an almost comical, albeit embarrassing, incident in Halifax has led the Canadian Armed Forces to once again amend their policy
On Aug. 12, Gen. Jonathan Vance issued new guidelines warning against tattoos on military members of anything considered to be sexually explicit, discriminatory, racist, extremist, homophobic, misogynistic, sexist, or evidence of membership in a criminal organization. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Liberal lip service to peacekeeping didn’t live up to election pledge

  • OTTAWA—Aug. 9 was National Peacekeepers’ Day, and in honour of this momentous occasion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted out the following message: “Canadian Peacekeepers
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 14, 2019
Members of the Mali Task Force are pictured during the Operation Presence medals parade at Camp Castor on June 8, 2019. Despite a Liberal promise to have Canada play a significant role in UN peacekeeping efforts, not extending the Mali mission comes in stark contrast to the rapidity with which Canada has been extending all of our current non-UN foreign military deployments, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph courtesy of Cpl. François Charest

Liberal lip service to peacekeeping didn’t live up to election pledge

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 14, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Aug. 9 was National Peacekeepers’ Day, and in honour of this momentous occasion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted out the following message: “Canadian Peacekeepers

Liberal lip service to peacekeeping didn’t live up to election pledge

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 14, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Aug. 9 was National Peacekeepers’ Day, and in honour of this momentous occasion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted out the following message: “Canadian Peacekeepers
Members of the Mali Task Force are pictured during the Operation Presence medals parade at Camp Castor on June 8, 2019. Despite a Liberal promise to have Canada play a significant role in UN peacekeeping efforts, not extending the Mali mission comes in stark contrast to the rapidity with which Canada has been extending all of our current non-UN foreign military deployments, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph courtesy of Cpl. François Charest

Damage control: China pulls out all the stops in an effort to denounce international claims of human rights abuse

  • XINJIANG, CHINA—In early July, a group of 22 countries, including Canada, Japan, the U.K., France, and Australia, signed a letter to the United Nations
Feature | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 7, 2019
Traditional dance routines are taught to the Uighur students of vocational schools—alleged to be re-education detention camps by the West—in Xinjiang, China, complete with elaborate costumes and a fog machine. A week-long media tour featured numerous cultural displays to counter international claims Uighur culture is being suppressed. Photograph courtesy of Scott Taylor

Damage control: China pulls out all the stops in an effort to denounce international claims of human rights abuse

Feature | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 7, 2019
  • XINJIANG, CHINA—In early July, a group of 22 countries, including Canada, Japan, the U.K., France, and Australia, signed a letter to the United Nations

Damage control: China pulls out all the stops in an effort to denounce international claims of human rights abuse

Feature | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 7, 2019
  • XINJIANG, CHINA—In early July, a group of 22 countries, including Canada, Japan, the U.K., France, and Australia, signed a letter to the United Nations
Traditional dance routines are taught to the Uighur students of vocational schools—alleged to be re-education detention camps by the West—in Xinjiang, China, complete with elaborate costumes and a fog machine. A week-long media tour featured numerous cultural displays to counter international claims Uighur culture is being suppressed. Photograph courtesy of Scott Taylor

Cenotaph rededication a reminder of an unjustified sacrifice

  • OTTAWA—On Saturday, Aug. 17, the Department of National Defence will host a dedication ceremony for what has come to be known as the Kandahar
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 7, 2019
The Kandahar monument, pictured in its original home, bears 190 plaques commemorating Canadians killed in the Afghanistan theatre, including 158 soldiers and others, like Calgary Herald journalist Michelle Lang. It will be rededicated that the DND headquarters on Aug. 17. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Cenotaph rededication a reminder of an unjustified sacrifice

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 7, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On Saturday, Aug. 17, the Department of National Defence will host a dedication ceremony for what has come to be known as the Kandahar

Cenotaph rededication a reminder of an unjustified sacrifice

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 7, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On Saturday, Aug. 17, the Department of National Defence will host a dedication ceremony for what has come to be known as the Kandahar
The Kandahar monument, pictured in its original home, bears 190 plaques commemorating Canadians killed in the Afghanistan theatre, including 158 soldiers and others, like Calgary Herald journalist Michelle Lang. It will be rededicated that the DND headquarters on Aug. 17. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Open mouth, insert sock: foreign actors have no need for trumped-up Trump framing

  • OTTAWA—For years now we have been told by various Western intelligence agencies that Russia is using social media platforms to interfere in foreign elections
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 31, 2019
U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured at the White House on July 22, 2019, bids farewell to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Trump blew up a storm of controversy during an Oval Office meeting with Mr. Khan after he told reporters that he could win the war in Afghanistan within a week by simply blowing it ‘off the face of the earth.’ White House photograph courtesy of Shealah Craighead

Open mouth, insert sock: foreign actors have no need for trumped-up Trump framing

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 31, 2019
  • OTTAWA—For years now we have been told by various Western intelligence agencies that Russia is using social media platforms to interfere in foreign elections

Open mouth, insert sock: foreign actors have no need for trumped-up Trump framing

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 31, 2019
  • OTTAWA—For years now we have been told by various Western intelligence agencies that Russia is using social media platforms to interfere in foreign elections
U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured at the White House on July 22, 2019, bids farewell to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Trump blew up a storm of controversy during an Oval Office meeting with Mr. Khan after he told reporters that he could win the war in Afghanistan within a week by simply blowing it ‘off the face of the earth.’ White House photograph courtesy of Shealah Craighead

There are no easy labels in the Omar Khadr saga

  • OTTAWA—There is continued debate about how and why the widow of a U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan could lay claim to the $10.5-million payout,
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 24, 2019
Omar Khadr was 15 when he went to Guantano Bay, and eight years later plead guilty to murder in violation of the law of war, which he later recanted. Scott Taylor writes that he has always been perplexed that the U.S. authorities could consider a soldier killed in battle to have been murdered. Screenshot courtesy of CBC’s The National

There are no easy labels in the Omar Khadr saga

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 24, 2019
  • OTTAWA—There is continued debate about how and why the widow of a U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan could lay claim to the $10.5-million payout,

There are no easy labels in the Omar Khadr saga

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 24, 2019
  • OTTAWA—There is continued debate about how and why the widow of a U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan could lay claim to the $10.5-million payout,
Omar Khadr was 15 when he went to Guantano Bay, and eight years later plead guilty to murder in violation of the law of war, which he later recanted. Scott Taylor writes that he has always been perplexed that the U.S. authorities could consider a soldier killed in battle to have been murdered. Screenshot courtesy of CBC’s The National

Honouring our fallen is a noble exercise—but so is questioning the fight

  • OTTAWA—Back in mid-May, the Department of National Defence blew up a media storm of controversy when they held a private dedication ceremony for what
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 17, 2019
Lt.-Col. Mark Chinner lays a wreath during a 2016 Remembrance Day ceremony at the Afghanistan Memorial at 12 Wing Shearwater, N.S. Controversy over the location and dedication of the repatriated Kandahar cenotaph in Ottawa has raised other questions about how the government honours fallen soldiers, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by LS Brad Upshall

Honouring our fallen is a noble exercise—but so is questioning the fight

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 17, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Back in mid-May, the Department of National Defence blew up a media storm of controversy when they held a private dedication ceremony for what

Honouring our fallen is a noble exercise—but so is questioning the fight

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 17, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Back in mid-May, the Department of National Defence blew up a media storm of controversy when they held a private dedication ceremony for what
Lt.-Col. Mark Chinner lays a wreath during a 2016 Remembrance Day ceremony at the Afghanistan Memorial at 12 Wing Shearwater, N.S. Controversy over the location and dedication of the repatriated Kandahar cenotaph in Ottawa has raised other questions about how the government honours fallen soldiers, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by LS Brad Upshall

Military second-in-command shouldn’t be praised for making a beneficial personal choice

  • OTTAWA—On July 1, Postmedia broke the story that Canada’s Vice Chief of the Defence Staff has been collecting benefits, known as an imposed restriction
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 10, 2019
National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Lt.-Gen. Paul Wynnyk, vice chief of the defence staff, attend the Ukrainian community’s Canadian Armed Forces appreciation evening in February. The official statement from DND about Wynnyk’s benefits makes it sound like he was volunteering his time to serve Canada out of the goodness of his heart, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Military second-in-command shouldn’t be praised for making a beneficial personal choice

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 10, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On July 1, Postmedia broke the story that Canada’s Vice Chief of the Defence Staff has been collecting benefits, known as an imposed restriction

Military second-in-command shouldn’t be praised for making a beneficial personal choice

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 10, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On July 1, Postmedia broke the story that Canada’s Vice Chief of the Defence Staff has been collecting benefits, known as an imposed restriction
National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Lt.-Gen. Paul Wynnyk, vice chief of the defence staff, attend the Ukrainian community’s Canadian Armed Forces appreciation evening in February. The official statement from DND about Wynnyk’s benefits makes it sound like he was volunteering his time to serve Canada out of the goodness of his heart, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Here’s hoping for success in Iraq—whatever that is

  • OTTAWA—On Wednesday, June 26, the government of Canada announced that we are extending the current mission in Iraq by a full 12 months, to
Feature | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 3, 2019
Brigadier-General Jennie Carignan, pictured in April visiting the flooded areas in Gatineau, Que., will assume the rank of major-general and command of the Canada-led NATO Mission Iraq in the fall. DND photograph by Pte. Hugo Montpetit

Here’s hoping for success in Iraq—whatever that is

Feature | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 3, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On Wednesday, June 26, the government of Canada announced that we are extending the current mission in Iraq by a full 12 months, to

Here’s hoping for success in Iraq—whatever that is

Feature | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 3, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On Wednesday, June 26, the government of Canada announced that we are extending the current mission in Iraq by a full 12 months, to
Brigadier-General Jennie Carignan, pictured in April visiting the flooded areas in Gatineau, Que., will assume the rank of major-general and command of the Canada-led NATO Mission Iraq in the fall. DND photograph by Pte. Hugo Montpetit

Navy SEAL court martial may be a futile exercise, thanks to executive intervention

  • OTTAWA—In the summer of 2017, Canadian Special Forces operatives were deployed to northern Iraq to act as advisors to Kurdish militia who were battling
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 26, 2019
U.S. President Donald Trump has already intervened once in the case of a Navy SEAL on trial for several serious charges, including murder, for alleged actions in Iraq. Flickr photograph by Gage Skidmore

Navy SEAL court martial may be a futile exercise, thanks to executive intervention

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 26, 2019
  • OTTAWA—In the summer of 2017, Canadian Special Forces operatives were deployed to northern Iraq to act as advisors to Kurdish militia who were battling

Navy SEAL court martial may be a futile exercise, thanks to executive intervention

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 26, 2019
  • OTTAWA—In the summer of 2017, Canadian Special Forces operatives were deployed to northern Iraq to act as advisors to Kurdish militia who were battling
U.S. President Donald Trump has already intervened once in the case of a Navy SEAL on trial for several serious charges, including murder, for alleged actions in Iraq. Flickr photograph by Gage Skidmore

It’s time to dangle more than financial carrots to keep our fighter pilots

  • OTTAWA—On June 10, Lieutenant-General Al Meinzinger, the commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, sent out a message to all personnel outlining several new
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 19, 2019
A CF-188 Hornet pilot prepares for take off from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania during Operation REASSURANCE in November 2018. When in Canada, fighter pilots are based in northern Alberta and Quebec, but maybe it’s time to allow them to be stationed in more-urban centres, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Dominic Duchesne-Beaulieu

It’s time to dangle more than financial carrots to keep our fighter pilots

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 19, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On June 10, Lieutenant-General Al Meinzinger, the commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, sent out a message to all personnel outlining several new

It’s time to dangle more than financial carrots to keep our fighter pilots

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 19, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On June 10, Lieutenant-General Al Meinzinger, the commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, sent out a message to all personnel outlining several new
A CF-188 Hornet pilot prepares for take off from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania during Operation REASSURANCE in November 2018. When in Canada, fighter pilots are based in northern Alberta and Quebec, but maybe it’s time to allow them to be stationed in more-urban centres, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Dominic Duchesne-Beaulieu

If Trump wants Americans out of Cuba, start by closing Gitmo

  • OTTAWA—On June 4, the Trump administration made the surprise announcement that it was imposing a new set of travel restrictions on Americans wishing to
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 12, 2019
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the new travel restrictions to Cuba are the result of the island nation ‘propping up’ American adversaries in Venezuela and Nicaragua. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

If Trump wants Americans out of Cuba, start by closing Gitmo

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 12, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On June 4, the Trump administration made the surprise announcement that it was imposing a new set of travel restrictions on Americans wishing to

If Trump wants Americans out of Cuba, start by closing Gitmo

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 12, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On June 4, the Trump administration made the surprise announcement that it was imposing a new set of travel restrictions on Americans wishing to
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the new travel restrictions to Cuba are the result of the island nation ‘propping up’ American adversaries in Venezuela and Nicaragua. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Feds, Irving need to clean up their act and find a better PR move than threatening reporters

  • OTTAWA—Last week the Globe and Mail broke the story about Irving Shipbuilding being allowed to claim a $40-million industrial benefit for a french fry
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 5, 2019
The departments headed by National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Public Services and Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough, and Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains need a better response to the practice of turning over reporters’ information to private companies, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds, Irving need to clean up their act and find a better PR move than threatening reporters

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 5, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Last week the Globe and Mail broke the story about Irving Shipbuilding being allowed to claim a $40-million industrial benefit for a french fry

Feds, Irving need to clean up their act and find a better PR move than threatening reporters

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 5, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Last week the Globe and Mail broke the story about Irving Shipbuilding being allowed to claim a $40-million industrial benefit for a french fry
The departments headed by National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Public Services and Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough, and Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains need a better response to the practice of turning over reporters’ information to private companies, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Move Kandahar monument to Beechwood National Memorial Centre to save face

  • OTTAWA—On Monday, May 13, a low-key, invitation-only, VIP ceremony took place at the Department of National Defence’s new Carling Campus. This was held to
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 29, 2019
The Kandahar monument, pictured in its original home, bears 190 plaques commemorating Canadians killed in the Afghanistan theatre, including 158 soldiers and others, like Calgary Herald journalist Michelle Lang. After its relocation to DND's publicly inaccessible headquarters received backlash, Chief of Defence Staff, General Jonathan Vance, vowed to 'turn this around.' Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Move Kandahar monument to Beechwood National Memorial Centre to save face

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 29, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On Monday, May 13, a low-key, invitation-only, VIP ceremony took place at the Department of National Defence’s new Carling Campus. This was held to

Move Kandahar monument to Beechwood National Memorial Centre to save face

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 29, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On Monday, May 13, a low-key, invitation-only, VIP ceremony took place at the Department of National Defence’s new Carling Campus. This was held to
The Kandahar monument, pictured in its original home, bears 190 plaques commemorating Canadians killed in the Afghanistan theatre, including 158 soldiers and others, like Calgary Herald journalist Michelle Lang. After its relocation to DND's publicly inaccessible headquarters received backlash, Chief of Defence Staff, General Jonathan Vance, vowed to 'turn this around.' Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Amid U.S.-Iran brinksmanship, Canadian troops ought to leave Iraq

  • gOTTAWA—Almost unmentioned in Canadian mainstream media is the steadily escalating tension between the United States and Iran. In recent days, the Pentagon has deployed
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 22, 2019
A Canadian door-gunner surveys the ground below during a CH-146 Griffon helicopter flight near Erbil, Iraq on March 2, 2017 as part of Canada’s mission in the country. Photograph courtesy of U.S. Combat Camera

Amid U.S.-Iran brinksmanship, Canadian troops ought to leave Iraq

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 22, 2019
  • gOTTAWA—Almost unmentioned in Canadian mainstream media is the steadily escalating tension between the United States and Iran. In recent days, the Pentagon has deployed

Amid U.S.-Iran brinksmanship, Canadian troops ought to leave Iraq

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 22, 2019
  • gOTTAWA—Almost unmentioned in Canadian mainstream media is the steadily escalating tension between the United States and Iran. In recent days, the Pentagon has deployed
A Canadian door-gunner surveys the ground below during a CH-146 Griffon helicopter flight near Erbil, Iraq on March 2, 2017 as part of Canada’s mission in the country. Photograph courtesy of U.S. Combat Camera

With focus on Norman case, military-trip sex assault case against ex-NHLer dropped

  • OTTAWA—Last week, the surprising announcement that the Crown prosecutor’s office was staying the single charge of breach of trust against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman ignited
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 15, 2019
Former Maple Leafs player Dave ‘Tiger’ Williams, left, suited up for a morale-boosting Canadian military hockey game on Dec. 5, 2017 in Latvia. On the flight to get to there, he was accused of sexual assault, but the case was dropped last week. Canadian Embassy in Latvia photograph by Armins Janiks

With focus on Norman case, military-trip sex assault case against ex-NHLer dropped

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 15, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Last week, the surprising announcement that the Crown prosecutor’s office was staying the single charge of breach of trust against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman ignited

With focus on Norman case, military-trip sex assault case against ex-NHLer dropped

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 15, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Last week, the surprising announcement that the Crown prosecutor’s office was staying the single charge of breach of trust against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman ignited
Former Maple Leafs player Dave ‘Tiger’ Williams, left, suited up for a morale-boosting Canadian military hockey game on Dec. 5, 2017 in Latvia. On the flight to get to there, he was accused of sexual assault, but the case was dropped last week. Canadian Embassy in Latvia photograph by Armins Janiks

‘Inappropriate’ or not, disregard for the rules shouldn’t be put on parade

  • OTTAWA—Last week, the social media platforms were set abuzz over a photograph depicting a squad of armed Canadian soldiers in combat uniforms, seemingly on
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 8, 2019
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan—pictured speaking in Ottawa in March—said that while there were good intentions behind having soldiers carry weapons in an April 28 Khalsa Day parade in Toronto, it was ultimately ‘inappropriate.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Inappropriate’ or not, disregard for the rules shouldn’t be put on parade

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 8, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Last week, the social media platforms were set abuzz over a photograph depicting a squad of armed Canadian soldiers in combat uniforms, seemingly on

‘Inappropriate’ or not, disregard for the rules shouldn’t be put on parade

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 8, 2019
  • OTTAWA—Last week, the social media platforms were set abuzz over a photograph depicting a squad of armed Canadian soldiers in combat uniforms, seemingly on
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan—pictured speaking in Ottawa in March—said that while there were good intentions behind having soldiers carry weapons in an April 28 Khalsa Day parade in Toronto, it was ultimately ‘inappropriate.’ The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Not all claims of ‘war crime’ are treated equally

  • OTTAWA—On Easter Sunday, Radio-Canada aired an interview with Omar Khadr wherein the former boy-soldier and subsequent detainee discussed his captivity in Guantanamo Bay. There
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 1, 2019
In March, U.S. President Donald Trump intervened in the case of a U.S. Navy SEAL charged with murder for his alleged actions in Iraq, saying he would be moved to ‘less restrictive confinement.’ Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore

Not all claims of ‘war crime’ are treated equally

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 1, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On Easter Sunday, Radio-Canada aired an interview with Omar Khadr wherein the former boy-soldier and subsequent detainee discussed his captivity in Guantanamo Bay. There

Not all claims of ‘war crime’ are treated equally

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 1, 2019
  • OTTAWA—On Easter Sunday, Radio-Canada aired an interview with Omar Khadr wherein the former boy-soldier and subsequent detainee discussed his captivity in Guantanamo Bay. There
In March, U.S. President Donald Trump intervened in the case of a U.S. Navy SEAL charged with murder for his alleged actions in Iraq, saying he would be moved to ‘less restrictive confinement.’ Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore

No gold stars for pulling troops from places they shouldn’t have been

  • OTTAWA—For those who read through to the back pages of the newspaper’s world affairs section, the conflict in Libya has been back in the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 24, 2019
Canadian Armed Forces members board a CC-130J Hercules aircraft during Operation Impact, Canada's mission in Iraq, in August 2018. Canadian troops are participating in a U.S.-led multinational coalition in Iraq, which invited the foreign military in the country, unlike Syria and Libya, where the American government said its own soldiers will be leaving. Operation Impact photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

No gold stars for pulling troops from places they shouldn’t have been

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 24, 2019
  • OTTAWA—For those who read through to the back pages of the newspaper’s world affairs section, the conflict in Libya has been back in the

No gold stars for pulling troops from places they shouldn’t have been

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 24, 2019
  • OTTAWA—For those who read through to the back pages of the newspaper’s world affairs section, the conflict in Libya has been back in the
Canadian Armed Forces members board a CC-130J Hercules aircraft during Operation Impact, Canada's mission in Iraq, in August 2018. Canadian troops are participating in a U.S.-led multinational coalition in Iraq, which invited the foreign military in the country, unlike Syria and Libya, where the American government said its own soldiers will be leaving. Operation Impact photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

Beards and bare legs: This is no longer your grandfather’s military

  • OTTAWA—In an attempt to boost recruitment and to shore up retention, the Canadian Armed Forces have recently made changes to regulations regarding the dress
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 17, 2019
Aircraft structures technicians work on a Chinook helicopter during Canada’s mission in Mali on March 24. The Canadian Armed Forces has loosened rules on beards in recent years. Cpl. François Charest photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces

Beards and bare legs: This is no longer your grandfather’s military

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 17, 2019
  • OTTAWA—In an attempt to boost recruitment and to shore up retention, the Canadian Armed Forces have recently made changes to regulations regarding the dress

Beards and bare legs: This is no longer your grandfather’s military

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 17, 2019
  • OTTAWA—In an attempt to boost recruitment and to shore up retention, the Canadian Armed Forces have recently made changes to regulations regarding the dress
Aircraft structures technicians work on a Chinook helicopter during Canada’s mission in Mali on March 24. The Canadian Armed Forces has loosened rules on beards in recent years. Cpl. François Charest photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces

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