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Saturday, September 6, 2025

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Scott Taylor

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

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

There goes the neighbourhood

  • If our old relationship with the U.S. ‘is over,’ then we can learn from our southernmost neighbour how to be creative in rethinking what
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 14, 2025
Mexican marines perform drills at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in June 2018. The Mexican military is structured almost entirely for internal defence and security, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by OS Justin Spinello

There goes the neighbourhood

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 14, 2025
  • If our old relationship with the U.S. ‘is over,’ then we can learn from our southernmost neighbour how to be creative in rethinking what

There goes the neighbourhood

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 14, 2025
  • If our old relationship with the U.S. ‘is over,’ then we can learn from our southernmost neighbour how to be creative in rethinking what
Mexican marines perform drills at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in June 2018. The Mexican military is structured almost entirely for internal defence and security, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by OS Justin Spinello

This isn’t the ‘Whisky War’: in defence of Greenland and Denmark

  • We cannot sit back as the Trump administration bullies Denmark into submission with false claims of neglected defence.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2025
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance used Pituffik Space Base as a podium to espouse his negative views of the Danish government and Greenland during a March 28 visit to the country. Screenshot courtesy of ABC News

This isn’t the ‘Whisky War’: in defence of Greenland and Denmark

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2025
  • We cannot sit back as the Trump administration bullies Denmark into submission with false claims of neglected defence.

This isn’t the ‘Whisky War’: in defence of Greenland and Denmark

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2025
  • We cannot sit back as the Trump administration bullies Denmark into submission with false claims of neglected defence.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance used Pituffik Space Base as a podium to espouse his negative views of the Danish government and Greenland during a March 28 visit to the country. Screenshot courtesy of ABC News

Will the F-35 become a casualty as Trump’s trade war widens?

  • The U.S. president badgering Canada into spending more on American defence technology under threat of economic punishment does not sit well with most patriotic
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2025
Then-Air Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin gets ready for a flight at Solenzara Air Force Base in Corsica, France, on Dec. 4, 2013. DND photograph by Master Seaman Steeve Picard

Will the F-35 become a casualty as Trump’s trade war widens?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2025
  • The U.S. president badgering Canada into spending more on American defence technology under threat of economic punishment does not sit well with most patriotic

Will the F-35 become a casualty as Trump’s trade war widens?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2025
  • The U.S. president badgering Canada into spending more on American defence technology under threat of economic punishment does not sit well with most patriotic
Then-Air Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin gets ready for a flight at Solenzara Air Force Base in Corsica, France, on Dec. 4, 2013. DND photograph by Master Seaman Steeve Picard

Does the military have room to get its elbows up?

  • Sadly for patriotic Canadians, the majority of the military hardware that the government does purchase is from American defence companies.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2025
Royal Canadian Air Force ground crew perform post flight checks on a CF-18 fighter jet in Kuwait on Nov. 3, 2014. Photograph courtesy of Canadian Forces Combat Camera/DND

Does the military have room to get its elbows up?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2025
  • Sadly for patriotic Canadians, the majority of the military hardware that the government does purchase is from American defence companies.

Does the military have room to get its elbows up?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2025
  • Sadly for patriotic Canadians, the majority of the military hardware that the government does purchase is from American defence companies.
Royal Canadian Air Force ground crew perform post flight checks on a CF-18 fighter jet in Kuwait on Nov. 3, 2014. Photograph courtesy of Canadian Forces Combat Camera/DND

Another major procurement project FUBAR

  • Buried in the fine print of the Canadian Surface Combatant announcement was the fact that the total cost to build these three warships is expected
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
Bill Blair
Bill Blair
Defence Minister Bill Blair’s March 8 shipbuilding contract announcement was unsurprisingly dropped into a media void, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Another major procurement project FUBAR

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
  • Buried in the fine print of the Canadian Surface Combatant announcement was the fact that the total cost to build these three warships is expected

Another major procurement project FUBAR

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
  • Buried in the fine print of the Canadian Surface Combatant announcement was the fact that the total cost to build these three warships is expected
Bill Blair
Defence Minister Bill Blair’s March 8 shipbuilding contract announcement was unsurprisingly dropped into a media void, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trumped again

  • For President Donald Trump to question Canada’s military resolve is an insult to the sacrifices which were made in support of the U.S.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently cast baseless aspersions on NATO's reliability, given its history in the wake of 9/11, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trumped again

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
  • For President Donald Trump to question Canada’s military resolve is an insult to the sacrifices which were made in support of the U.S.

Trumped again

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
  • For President Donald Trump to question Canada’s military resolve is an insult to the sacrifices which were made in support of the U.S.
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently cast baseless aspersions on NATO's reliability, given its history in the wake of 9/11, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Casting a wider recruiting net

  • Why is the CAF trying to fix a problem that does not exist instead of addressing the issue of a lack of trainers in
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2025
Major-General Scott Malcolm was among the officials who announced changes to the CAF recruiting process on Feb. 19. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Casting a wider recruiting net

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2025
  • Why is the CAF trying to fix a problem that does not exist instead of addressing the issue of a lack of trainers in

Casting a wider recruiting net

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2025
  • Why is the CAF trying to fix a problem that does not exist instead of addressing the issue of a lack of trainers in
Major-General Scott Malcolm was among the officials who announced changes to the CAF recruiting process on Feb. 19. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC
More Stories

Official inquiry needed to avoid repeat of Afghan failure

  • OTTAWA—There were news stories out of Afghanistan last week detailing how the United States is expanding and entrenching the so-called Green Zone in the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 11, 2017
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance, left, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan and parliamentary secretary Sherry Romanado unveiled a suicide prevention strategy in Ottawa on Oct. 5. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Official inquiry needed to avoid repeat of Afghan failure

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 11, 2017
  • OTTAWA—There were news stories out of Afghanistan last week detailing how the United States is expanding and entrenching the so-called Green Zone in the

Official inquiry needed to avoid repeat of Afghan failure

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 11, 2017
  • OTTAWA—There were news stories out of Afghanistan last week detailing how the United States is expanding and entrenching the so-called Green Zone in the
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance, left, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan and parliamentary secretary Sherry Romanado unveiled a suicide prevention strategy in Ottawa on Oct. 5. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Canada has gotten as far away from peacekeeping as possible

  • OTTAWA—One of the persisting myths in Canada is that we are a nation of peacekeepers. Hell, we practically claim that former prime minister Lester
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 4, 2017
In their 2015 election platform, the Liberals tapped into a certain nostalgia for the days when Canada's blue berets were trying to stop factions from killing each other, but the party has failed to deliver on its promises, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Canada has gotten as far away from peacekeeping as possible

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 4, 2017
  • OTTAWA—One of the persisting myths in Canada is that we are a nation of peacekeepers. Hell, we practically claim that former prime minister Lester

Canada has gotten as far away from peacekeeping as possible

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 4, 2017
  • OTTAWA—One of the persisting myths in Canada is that we are a nation of peacekeepers. Hell, we practically claim that former prime minister Lester
In their 2015 election platform, the Liberals tapped into a certain nostalgia for the days when Canada's blue berets were trying to stop factions from killing each other, but the party has failed to deliver on its promises, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Canada needs to either pick a side or get itself out of Iraq

  • OTTAWA—Last week there was a brief news release from National Defence entitled “Canadian Armed Forces now Advising, Assisting Iraqis near Hawija.” It garnered little
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 27, 2017
A peshmerga soldier searches for signs of improvised explosive devices during training in Bnaslawa, Iraq, Nov. 29, 2016. Canadian trainers have been advising, assisting, and fighting alongside Kurdish peshmerga militia members since 2014, says Scott Taylor. Sgt. Lisa Soy photograph courtesy of the U.S. Army.

Canada needs to either pick a side or get itself out of Iraq

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 27, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Last week there was a brief news release from National Defence entitled “Canadian Armed Forces now Advising, Assisting Iraqis near Hawija.” It garnered little

Canada needs to either pick a side or get itself out of Iraq

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 27, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Last week there was a brief news release from National Defence entitled “Canadian Armed Forces now Advising, Assisting Iraqis near Hawija.” It garnered little
A peshmerga soldier searches for signs of improvised explosive devices during training in Bnaslawa, Iraq, Nov. 29, 2016. Canadian trainers have been advising, assisting, and fighting alongside Kurdish peshmerga militia members since 2014, says Scott Taylor. Sgt. Lisa Soy photograph courtesy of the U.S. Army.

Calm down, North Korea isn’t planning to nuke Canada

  • OTTAWA—A couple of related events last week were added together by the usual cast of fearmongers in yet another attempt to scare the bejeezus
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 20, 2017
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency launches a test from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. on June 22, 2014. Canadian politicians have been divided on the value of joining the U.S. missile defence system for years, but Liberal and Conservative government have both opted not to. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency via Flickr

Calm down, North Korea isn’t planning to nuke Canada

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 20, 2017
  • OTTAWA—A couple of related events last week were added together by the usual cast of fearmongers in yet another attempt to scare the bejeezus

Calm down, North Korea isn’t planning to nuke Canada

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 20, 2017
  • OTTAWA—A couple of related events last week were added together by the usual cast of fearmongers in yet another attempt to scare the bejeezus
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency launches a test from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. on June 22, 2014. Canadian politicians have been divided on the value of joining the U.S. missile defence system for years, but Liberal and Conservative government have both opted not to. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency via Flickr

NATO film rewrites history to demonize Russians

  • OTTAWA—There is a controversial new video out on NATO’s official YouTube channel entitled Forest Brothers. The gist of the eight-minute film is to lionize the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2017
Canadian soldiers with a NATO battlegroup in Latvia patrol in a simulated contaminated environment on Aug. 26. Cpl. Jordan Lobb photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces

NATO film rewrites history to demonize Russians

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2017
  • OTTAWA—There is a controversial new video out on NATO’s official YouTube channel entitled Forest Brothers. The gist of the eight-minute film is to lionize the

NATO film rewrites history to demonize Russians

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2017
  • OTTAWA—There is a controversial new video out on NATO’s official YouTube channel entitled Forest Brothers. The gist of the eight-minute film is to lionize the
Canadian soldiers with a NATO battlegroup in Latvia patrol in a simulated contaminated environment on Aug. 26. Cpl. Jordan Lobb photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces

CBC should stop trying to demonize the Russians for their guns

  • OTTAWA—I happened to catch a news item on the CBC’s The National last Thursday night that illustrates how modern Russian society celebrates its association with the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 6, 2017
Russian President Vladimir Putin, foreground third from left, visits the Kalashnikov Corporate Group in 2013. Photograph courtesy of the Kremlin

CBC should stop trying to demonize the Russians for their guns

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 6, 2017
  • OTTAWA—I happened to catch a news item on the CBC’s The National last Thursday night that illustrates how modern Russian society celebrates its association with the

CBC should stop trying to demonize the Russians for their guns

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 6, 2017
  • OTTAWA—I happened to catch a news item on the CBC’s The National last Thursday night that illustrates how modern Russian society celebrates its association with the
Russian President Vladimir Putin, foreground third from left, visits the Kalashnikov Corporate Group in 2013. Photograph courtesy of the Kremlin

Easy to poke holes in Trump’s Afghanistan plan

  • OTTAWA—On Aug. 21, when United States President Donald Trump made his long-anticipated announcement about the war in Afghanistan, even he had to admit that
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 30, 2017
Soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard salute in Albany, Oregon, June 13, 2016, after returning from a 10-month tour in Afghanistan. U.S. President Donald Trump plans to boost troop numbers in the country. Christopher L. Ingersoll photograph courtesy of the U.S. Army

Easy to poke holes in Trump’s Afghanistan plan

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 30, 2017
  • OTTAWA—On Aug. 21, when United States President Donald Trump made his long-anticipated announcement about the war in Afghanistan, even he had to admit that

Easy to poke holes in Trump’s Afghanistan plan

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 30, 2017
  • OTTAWA—On Aug. 21, when United States President Donald Trump made his long-anticipated announcement about the war in Afghanistan, even he had to admit that
Soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard salute in Albany, Oregon, June 13, 2016, after returning from a 10-month tour in Afghanistan. U.S. President Donald Trump plans to boost troop numbers in the country. Christopher L. Ingersoll photograph courtesy of the U.S. Army

Barcelona and Charlottesville: similar crimes, very different Trump responses

  • OTTAWA—In a scene from the 1980 classic comedy movie The Blues Brothers, the title characters are stuck in a traffic jam. The cause of the delay
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 23, 2017
The response by U.S. President Donald Trump, centre, pictured earlier this month, to the Charlottesville and Barcelona car rammings dominated the news cycle last week, displacing other hot topics such as alleged Russian election hacking and North Korean nuclear weapons. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Barcelona and Charlottesville: similar crimes, very different Trump responses

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 23, 2017
  • OTTAWA—In a scene from the 1980 classic comedy movie The Blues Brothers, the title characters are stuck in a traffic jam. The cause of the delay

Barcelona and Charlottesville: similar crimes, very different Trump responses

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 23, 2017
  • OTTAWA—In a scene from the 1980 classic comedy movie The Blues Brothers, the title characters are stuck in a traffic jam. The cause of the delay
The response by U.S. President Donald Trump, centre, pictured earlier this month, to the Charlottesville and Barcelona car rammings dominated the news cycle last week, displacing other hot topics such as alleged Russian election hacking and North Korean nuclear weapons. White House photograph by Andrea Hanks

Scariest part of U.S.-North Korea showdown isn’t Kim Jong-un

  • OTTAWA—With all of the fear-mongering going on these days, one could be forgiven for believing we are on the eve of a nuclear Armageddon
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 16, 2017
Military experts are eager to demonstrate how dangerous North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, is. But that doesn't mean U.S. President Donald Trump, left, is safer, writes Scott Taylor. Photographs courtesy of Gage Skidmore and KCNA

Scariest part of U.S.-North Korea showdown isn’t Kim Jong-un

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 16, 2017
  • OTTAWA—With all of the fear-mongering going on these days, one could be forgiven for believing we are on the eve of a nuclear Armageddon

Scariest part of U.S.-North Korea showdown isn’t Kim Jong-un

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 16, 2017
  • OTTAWA—With all of the fear-mongering going on these days, one could be forgiven for believing we are on the eve of a nuclear Armageddon
Military experts are eager to demonstrate how dangerous North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, is. But that doesn't mean U.S. President Donald Trump, left, is safer, writes Scott Taylor. Photographs courtesy of Gage Skidmore and KCNA

Better ways to spend money than propping up Afghan leadership

  • OTTAWA—While Canada may have concluded a 12-year military commitment to the war in Afghanistan back in the spring of 2014, few taxpayers realize that
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 9, 2017
Scott Taylor, right, with Afghan general, warlord, and Vice-President Abdul Rashid Dostum in 2010. Photograph courtesy of Scott Taylor

Better ways to spend money than propping up Afghan leadership

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 9, 2017
  • OTTAWA—While Canada may have concluded a 12-year military commitment to the war in Afghanistan back in the spring of 2014, few taxpayers realize that

Better ways to spend money than propping up Afghan leadership

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 9, 2017
  • OTTAWA—While Canada may have concluded a 12-year military commitment to the war in Afghanistan back in the spring of 2014, few taxpayers realize that
Scott Taylor, right, with Afghan general, warlord, and Vice-President Abdul Rashid Dostum in 2010. Photograph courtesy of Scott Taylor

Trump’s reasons for military transgender ban are nonsense

  • OTTAWA—On July 26, United States President Donald Trump sent out a series of tweets to the effect that the American military would no longer
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 2, 2017
Royal Canadian Navy band members perform during the Toronto Pride parade on July 3, 2016. The Canadian military tweeted this photo on July 26, the day U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military. The tweet said the Canadian military welcomes Canadians of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Precious Carandang photograph courtesy of DND

Trump’s reasons for military transgender ban are nonsense

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 2, 2017
  • OTTAWA—On July 26, United States President Donald Trump sent out a series of tweets to the effect that the American military would no longer

Trump’s reasons for military transgender ban are nonsense

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 2, 2017
  • OTTAWA—On July 26, United States President Donald Trump sent out a series of tweets to the effect that the American military would no longer
Royal Canadian Navy band members perform during the Toronto Pride parade on July 3, 2016. The Canadian military tweeted this photo on July 26, the day U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military. The tweet said the Canadian military welcomes Canadians of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Precious Carandang photograph courtesy of DND

Edward Cornwallis statue in Halifax ought to stay

  • OTTAWA—There has been a lot of controversy recently in Halifax over a statue of Edward Cornwallis, the city’s founder. On Canada Day, a crowd
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 26, 2017
Many have called for this statue of Halifax founder Edward Cornwallis in a city park to be removed because of the British officer's treatment of Indigenous peoples in the 1700s. Photograph courtesy of David Kirsch

Edward Cornwallis statue in Halifax ought to stay

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 26, 2017
  • OTTAWA—There has been a lot of controversy recently in Halifax over a statue of Edward Cornwallis, the city’s founder. On Canada Day, a crowd

Edward Cornwallis statue in Halifax ought to stay

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 26, 2017
  • OTTAWA—There has been a lot of controversy recently in Halifax over a statue of Edward Cornwallis, the city’s founder. On Canada Day, a crowd
Many have called for this statue of Halifax founder Edward Cornwallis in a city park to be removed because of the British officer's treatment of Indigenous peoples in the 1700s. Photograph courtesy of David Kirsch

Mosul may be free, but Iraq’s complex war continues

  • OTTAWA—Earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared that the brutal nine-month battle to retake the city of Mosul was finally over.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 19, 2017
Burnt-out cars sit on the side of the road in November 2016 on the outskirts of Mosul, the northern Iraqi city recently reclaimed by Iraqi forces from Daesh. Photograph courtesy of Mstyslav Chernov

Mosul may be free, but Iraq’s complex war continues

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 19, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared that the brutal nine-month battle to retake the city of Mosul was finally over.

Mosul may be free, but Iraq’s complex war continues

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 19, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared that the brutal nine-month battle to retake the city of Mosul was finally over.
Burnt-out cars sit on the side of the road in November 2016 on the outskirts of Mosul, the northern Iraqi city recently reclaimed by Iraqi forces from Daesh. Photograph courtesy of Mstyslav Chernov

U.S. soldier’s family not entitled to $134-million from Khadr

  • OTTAWA—The Liberal government certainly stirred up a flurry of emotion with last week’s announcement that Canada will pay out a whopping $10.5-million in compensation
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 12, 2017
Special Forces soldier Christopher Speer is unloaded at Bagram Airfield after he was injured from a grenade thrown during a firefight in which Omar Khadr was captured in Afghanistan in 2002. Mr. Speer later died and his family is seeking compensation from Mr. Khadr. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. soldier’s family not entitled to $134-million from Khadr

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 12, 2017
  • OTTAWA—The Liberal government certainly stirred up a flurry of emotion with last week’s announcement that Canada will pay out a whopping $10.5-million in compensation

U.S. soldier’s family not entitled to $134-million from Khadr

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 12, 2017
  • OTTAWA—The Liberal government certainly stirred up a flurry of emotion with last week’s announcement that Canada will pay out a whopping $10.5-million in compensation
Special Forces soldier Christopher Speer is unloaded at Bagram Airfield after he was injured from a grenade thrown during a firefight in which Omar Khadr was captured in Afghanistan in 2002. Mr. Speer later died and his family is seeking compensation from Mr. Khadr. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense

No clear objective for Canada in Iraq

  • OTTAWA—Last Thursday the Liberal government gave Canadians a pre-Canada Day gift in the form of an update on our military role in Iraq. Defence
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 5, 2017
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan speaks to a Canadian Armed Forces member during a visit to Kuwait in December 2016. Operation Impact, intended to fight Daesh in Iraq, is based largely in Kuwait. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

No clear objective for Canada in Iraq

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 5, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Last Thursday the Liberal government gave Canadians a pre-Canada Day gift in the form of an update on our military role in Iraq. Defence

No clear objective for Canada in Iraq

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 5, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Last Thursday the Liberal government gave Canadians a pre-Canada Day gift in the form of an update on our military role in Iraq. Defence
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan speaks to a Canadian Armed Forces member during a visit to Kuwait in December 2016. Operation Impact, intended to fight Daesh in Iraq, is based largely in Kuwait. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

Fresh troops won’t help Afghanistan

  • OTTAWA—I recently had the opportunity to watch the new, made-for-Netflix movie War Machine, starring Brad Pitt. The subject of the film is the U.S.-led war
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 28, 2017
Soldiers during an exercise at the Consolidated Fielding Centre, Kabul, Afghanistan during Operation Attention on Sept. 2, 2013. Photograph by Sgt. James Funk, courtesy of National Defence

Fresh troops won’t help Afghanistan

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 28, 2017
  • OTTAWA—I recently had the opportunity to watch the new, made-for-Netflix movie War Machine, starring Brad Pitt. The subject of the film is the U.S.-led war

Fresh troops won’t help Afghanistan

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 28, 2017
  • OTTAWA—I recently had the opportunity to watch the new, made-for-Netflix movie War Machine, starring Brad Pitt. The subject of the film is the U.S.-led war
Soldiers during an exercise at the Consolidated Fielding Centre, Kabul, Afghanistan during Operation Attention on Sept. 2, 2013. Photograph by Sgt. James Funk, courtesy of National Defence

Torture allegations against Iraqis fighting on our side should cause Canadians concern

  • OTTAWA—Earlier this month The Toronto Star published an exposé complete with graphic photographs depicting horrific torture and abuse of prisoners in Iraq. What made the story
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 21, 2017
General Jonathan Vance, Canada’s chief of defence staff, reacted to torture revelations in The Toronto Star by saying: 'It doesn’t even fall into the category of understandable. In fact it mirrors what Daesh is doing, and you lose if you don’t maintain the moral high ground in this kind of war.' The Hill Times photograph by Marco Vigliotti

Torture allegations against Iraqis fighting on our side should cause Canadians concern

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 21, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Earlier this month The Toronto Star published an exposé complete with graphic photographs depicting horrific torture and abuse of prisoners in Iraq. What made the story

Torture allegations against Iraqis fighting on our side should cause Canadians concern

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 21, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Earlier this month The Toronto Star published an exposé complete with graphic photographs depicting horrific torture and abuse of prisoners in Iraq. What made the story
General Jonathan Vance, Canada’s chief of defence staff, reacted to torture revelations in The Toronto Star by saying: 'It doesn’t even fall into the category of understandable. In fact it mirrors what Daesh is doing, and you lose if you don’t maintain the moral high ground in this kind of war.' The Hill Times photograph by Marco Vigliotti

Defence plan: believe it when rubber hits the road

  • OTTAWA—Last Wednesday’s release of Canada’s new defence policy reminded me of the old Peanuts cartoon. In a long-running gag, Lucy promises to hold the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 14, 2017
General Dynamics Land Systems Canada shows off one of its lightly armoured vehicles at the 2016 CANSEC military equipment trade show in Ottawa. There is plenty of hardware available for purchase to shore up Canada's armed forces, if and when the government comes up with enough cash to pay for it. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Defence plan: believe it when rubber hits the road

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 14, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Last Wednesday’s release of Canada’s new defence policy reminded me of the old Peanuts cartoon. In a long-running gag, Lucy promises to hold the

Defence plan: believe it when rubber hits the road

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 14, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Last Wednesday’s release of Canada’s new defence policy reminded me of the old Peanuts cartoon. In a long-running gag, Lucy promises to hold the
General Dynamics Land Systems Canada shows off one of its lightly armoured vehicles at the 2016 CANSEC military equipment trade show in Ottawa. There is plenty of hardware available for purchase to shore up Canada's armed forces, if and when the government comes up with enough cash to pay for it. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Afghanistan, Somalia show ‘successes’ can quickly go sour

  • OTTAWA—Last week, I attended the two-day annual defence and security tradeshow in Ottawa known as CANSEC. While this exhibition is a great opportunity for
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 7, 2017
The annual defence and security tradeshow in Ottawa known as CANSEC is a rare venue for members of the media to have casual access to a wide variety of serving soldiers and other industry players. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Afghanistan, Somalia show ‘successes’ can quickly go sour

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 7, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Last week, I attended the two-day annual defence and security tradeshow in Ottawa known as CANSEC. While this exhibition is a great opportunity for

Afghanistan, Somalia show ‘successes’ can quickly go sour

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 7, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Last week, I attended the two-day annual defence and security tradeshow in Ottawa known as CANSEC. While this exhibition is a great opportunity for
The annual defence and security tradeshow in Ottawa known as CANSEC is a rare venue for members of the media to have casual access to a wide variety of serving soldiers and other industry players. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Defence spending laggards don’t need to spend more, U.S. should spend less

  • OTTAWA—At last week’s NATO summit, U.S. President Donald Trump surprised no one with his bombastic comments on defence spending. The Donald has long railed
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 31, 2017
Heads of state and government of NATO members, including U.S. President Donald Trump, centre, attend a dedication ceremony for memorials erected at the new NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium during a NATO summit on May 25. Photograph courtesy of NATO

Defence spending laggards don’t need to spend more, U.S. should spend less

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 31, 2017
  • OTTAWA—At last week’s NATO summit, U.S. President Donald Trump surprised no one with his bombastic comments on defence spending. The Donald has long railed

Defence spending laggards don’t need to spend more, U.S. should spend less

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 31, 2017
  • OTTAWA—At last week’s NATO summit, U.S. President Donald Trump surprised no one with his bombastic comments on defence spending. The Donald has long railed
Heads of state and government of NATO members, including U.S. President Donald Trump, centre, attend a dedication ceremony for memorials erected at the new NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium during a NATO summit on May 25. Photograph courtesy of NATO

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