Monday, June 23, 2025

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Monday, June 23, 2025 | Latest Paper

Inside Defence

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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 16, 2025
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2025
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 21, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 28, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 21, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 14, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2025
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
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
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2025
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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2025
Volodomyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been excluded from peace talks between the United States and Russia to end the war against his country. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2025
Volodomyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been excluded from peace talks between the United States and Russia to end the war against his country. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 17, 2025
The Conservatives’ plan for the North includes doubling the size of the Canadian Arctic Rangers, but it will hardly serve as a deterrent to those ‘hostile powers’ they want to thwart, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Sgt Jean-François Lauzé
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 17, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 17, 2025
The Conservatives’ plan for the North includes doubling the size of the Canadian Arctic Rangers, but it will hardly serve as a deterrent to those ‘hostile powers’ they want to thwart, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Sgt Jean-François Lauzé
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 10, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump's blaming of Canada for the entire drug-overdose tragedy in his country defies all logic, writes Scott Taylor. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 10, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 10, 2025
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump's blaming of Canada for the entire drug-overdose tragedy in his country defies all logic, writes Scott Taylor. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 3, 2025
According to a series of briefings to military leaders in June 2024, 44 per cent of personnel in the CAF are overweight, and another 28 per cent are classified as obese. DND photograph by Leading Seaman Sisi Xu
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 3, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 3, 2025
According to a series of briefings to military leaders in June 2024, 44 per cent of personnel in the CAF are overweight, and another 28 per cent are classified as obese. DND photograph by Leading Seaman Sisi Xu
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 27, 2025
Donald J. Trump
Due to his position, even U.S. President Trump’s most glib and offhand threats need to be addressed with diplomacy and tact, but they also need to be countered with some hard truths, writes Scott Taylor. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 27, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 27, 2025
Donald J. Trump
Due to his position, even U.S. President Trump’s most glib and offhand threats need to be addressed with diplomacy and tact, but they also need to be countered with some hard truths, writes Scott Taylor. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 20, 2025
Canadian soldiers have been called on to help battle flames, but boosting the ranks of the Air Force with a reserve to fly water bombers would be a boon, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Sailor Dan Bard
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 20, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 20, 2025
Canadian soldiers have been called on to help battle flames, but boosting the ranks of the Air Force with a reserve to fly water bombers would be a boon, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Sailor Dan Bard
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 13, 2025
At present, the CAF does not have retention bonuses, but in recent years they have offered signing bonuses to recruits with specific professional skill sets. DND photograph by MCpl Cass Moon
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 13, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 13, 2025
At present, the CAF does not have retention bonuses, but in recent years they have offered signing bonuses to recruits with specific professional skill sets. DND photograph by MCpl Cass Moon
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 6, 2025
Canada’s commitment to a beefed-up mission in Latvia will negatively impact the Army's morale over time without extra support, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Staff Sergeant Christian Milano, Spanish Army
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 6, 2025
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 6, 2025
Canada’s commitment to a beefed-up mission in Latvia will negatively impact the Army's morale over time without extra support, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Staff Sergeant Christian Milano, Spanish Army
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 23, 2024
Canada could and should commit to constructing northern transportation hubs, and labelling all of it an investment in the country’s defence, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Louis Brunet
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 23, 2024
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 23, 2024
Canada could and should commit to constructing northern transportation hubs, and labelling all of it an investment in the country’s defence, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Louis Brunet
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 16, 2024
Serving members of the Armed Forces have been documenting their living conditions in military barracks across the country. Photographs courtesy of Esprit de Corps  Photographs courtesy of Esprit de Corps 
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 16, 2024
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 16, 2024
Serving members of the Armed Forces have been documenting their living conditions in military barracks across the country. Photographs courtesy of Esprit de Corps  Photographs courtesy of Esprit de Corps 
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 9, 2024
A Volatus Aerospace drone is pictured at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa on June 1, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 9, 2024
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 9, 2024
A Volatus Aerospace drone is pictured at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa on June 1, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 1, 2021
The fact that Anita Anand is a woman potentially sends out the signal to CAF survivors and victims of sexual misconduct that the government is finally serious about tackling the current crisis, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 1, 2021
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 1, 2021
The fact that Anita Anand is a woman potentially sends out the signal to CAF survivors and victims of sexual misconduct that the government is finally serious about tackling the current crisis, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 25, 2021
Retired chief of defence staff General Jonathan Vance, left, his successor Admiral Art McDonald, and former vaccine-rollout leader Major-General Dany Fortin have all undergone investigation because of allegations of sexual misconduct or other dubious actions, which they have denied. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and photograph courtesy of Twitter
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 25, 2021
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 25, 2021
Retired chief of defence staff General Jonathan Vance, left, his successor Admiral Art McDonald, and former vaccine-rollout leader Major-General Dany Fortin have all undergone investigation because of allegations of sexual misconduct or other dubious actions, which they have denied. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and photograph courtesy of Twitter
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 18, 2021
Among Operation Impact’s objectives is to ‘help Iraq to achieve long-term success in keeping its territory and people secure.’ It’s a noble gesture, writes Scott Taylor, but it’s time to bring our troops home—the Sadrists can prop up their own leader without our assistance. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 18, 2021
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 18, 2021
Among Operation Impact’s objectives is to ‘help Iraq to achieve long-term success in keeping its territory and people secure.’ It’s a noble gesture, writes Scott Taylor, but it’s time to bring our troops home—the Sadrists can prop up their own leader without our assistance. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 11, 2021
The sign offs by General Wayne Eyre, acting chief of the defence staff, left, and Lieutenant-General Frances Allen, vice-chief of the defence staff to quietly return Major-General Peter Dawe, right, to a new role involving responses to the various reviews looking into sexual misconduct in the Armed Forces was yet another entirely avoidable black eye for the CAF senior command, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and photograph courtesy of NATO
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 11, 2021
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 11, 2021
The sign offs by General Wayne Eyre, acting chief of the defence staff, left, and Lieutenant-General Frances Allen, vice-chief of the defence staff to quietly return Major-General Peter Dawe, right, to a new role involving responses to the various reviews looking into sexual misconduct in the Armed Forces was yet another entirely avoidable black eye for the CAF senior command, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and photograph courtesy of NATO
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 4, 2021
The initiative to train public affairs officers on behaviour-modification techniques was the brainchild of now retired Brig.-Gen. Jay Janzen, who was at the time the senior officer in the public affairs branch. Photograph courtesy of NATO/SSgt Ian Houlding GBR Army
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 4, 2021
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 4, 2021
The initiative to train public affairs officers on behaviour-modification techniques was the brainchild of now retired Brig.-Gen. Jay Janzen, who was at the time the senior officer in the public affairs branch. Photograph courtesy of NATO/SSgt Ian Houlding GBR Army
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 29, 2021
Pupils of Mohawk Institute are pictured in Brantford, Ont., in September 1934. Scott Taylor writes that he now knows that under the terms of the 1885 Indian Act, it would have been mandatory for his grandmother Pauline to attend the Mohawk Residential Institute at Brantford until the age of 16. Photograph courtesy of Library and Archives Canada
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 29, 2021
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 29, 2021
Pupils of Mohawk Institute are pictured in Brantford, Ont., in September 1934. Scott Taylor writes that he now knows that under the terms of the 1885 Indian Act, it would have been mandatory for his grandmother Pauline to attend the Mohawk Residential Institute at Brantford until the age of 16. Photograph courtesy of Library and Archives Canada
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 27, 2021
If a nuclear-powered submarine pact by U.S. President Joe Biden, left, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and U.K Prime Minister Boris Johnson can undermine NATO ally France, maybe it is time for Canada to rethink our own membership in NATO? Photographs courtesy of Flicker and Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 27, 2021
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 27, 2021
If a nuclear-powered submarine pact by U.S. President Joe Biden, left, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and U.K Prime Minister Boris Johnson can undermine NATO ally France, maybe it is time for Canada to rethink our own membership in NATO? Photographs courtesy of Flicker and Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 20, 2021
After the NATO-assisted Libyan rebels toppled and executed president Muammar Gaddafi, the Harper government proudly staged a patriotic victory parade, complete with an RCAF flypast on Parliament Hill on Nov. 24, 2011, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 20, 2021
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 20, 2021
After the NATO-assisted Libyan rebels toppled and executed president Muammar Gaddafi, the Harper government proudly staged a patriotic victory parade, complete with an RCAF flypast on Parliament Hill on Nov. 24, 2011, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2021
The Kabul International Airport, pictured in 2009. We can only pray that this new incarnation of the Taliban remains a kinder, gentler version of itself and that airlifts to safety replace vengeful bloodletting, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Jim Kelly
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2021
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2021
The Kabul International Airport, pictured in 2009. We can only pray that this new incarnation of the Taliban remains a kinder, gentler version of itself and that airlifts to safety replace vengeful bloodletting, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Jim Kelly
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 6, 2021
Then-Canadian ambassador Chris Alexander’s inaccurate view that Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum was a remnant of Afghanistan’s past revealed just how little the youthful ambassador grasped the complexity of the Afghan political landscape, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times file photograph
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 6, 2021
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 6, 2021
Then-Canadian ambassador Chris Alexander’s inaccurate view that Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum was a remnant of Afghanistan’s past revealed just how little the youthful ambassador grasped the complexity of the Afghan political landscape, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times file photograph