Monday, June 23, 2025

Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989

Monday, June 23, 2025 | Latest Paper

Inside Defence

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
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2025
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
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 | November 11, 2020
The U.S. is deeply divided and President Donald Trump took every opportunity to pour gasoline on these glowing embers of longstanding divisiveness with his claims about the counting of mail-in ballots being some sort of anomaly, writes Scott Taylor. Flickr photograph courtesy of James McNellis
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 11, 2020
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 11, 2020
The U.S. is deeply divided and President Donald Trump took every opportunity to pour gasoline on these glowing embers of longstanding divisiveness with his claims about the counting of mail-in ballots being some sort of anomaly, writes Scott Taylor. Flickr photograph courtesy of James McNellis
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 4, 2020
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance acknowledged there are ‘no quick fixes for achieving culture change’ in the Canadian Armed Forces. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 4, 2020
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 4, 2020
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance acknowledged there are ‘no quick fixes for achieving culture change’ in the Canadian Armed Forces. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 28, 2020
The Canadian public does not want their military to modify their behaviour, fabricate phoney wolf threats, spy on the public’s social media, or keep files on individual journalists, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 28, 2020
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 28, 2020
The Canadian public does not want their military to modify their behaviour, fabricate phoney wolf threats, spy on the public’s social media, or keep files on individual journalists, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 21, 2020
To date, no one from the Canadian Armed Forces has been able to offer any credible explanation about why information warfare specialists with the Halifax Rifles drafted a letter to Nova Scotia residents warning that wolves had recently been re-introduced to the region by the provincial government. Pexels photograh by Patrice Schoefolt
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 21, 2020
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 21, 2020
To date, no one from the Canadian Armed Forces has been able to offer any credible explanation about why information warfare specialists with the Halifax Rifles drafted a letter to Nova Scotia residents warning that wolves had recently been re-introduced to the region by the provincial government. Pexels photograh by Patrice Schoefolt
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 14, 2020
During the Oct. 7 debate, U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence claimed that the Democrats had done a worse job of handling the swine flu, in defence of the president’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite it never being considered to be anywhere as lethal as COVID-19, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot via YouTube/C-SPAN
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 14, 2020
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 14, 2020
During the Oct. 7 debate, U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence claimed that the Democrats had done a worse job of handling the swine flu, in defence of the president’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite it never being considered to be anywhere as lethal as COVID-19, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot via YouTube/C-SPAN
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 7, 2020
A right-wing rally in Columbus, Ohio, was held on Aug. 29. Members of the Proud Boys love U.S. President Donald Trump, and they love to fight, writes Scott Taylor. Flickr photograph by Paul Becker
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 7, 2020
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 7, 2020
A right-wing rally in Columbus, Ohio, was held on Aug. 29. Members of the Proud Boys love U.S. President Donald Trump, and they love to fight, writes Scott Taylor. Flickr photograph by Paul Becker
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 30, 2020
A flypast of seven CF-18 and one CC-150 Polaris tanker takes place over Parliament to mark the end of Operation Mobile in Libya on Nov. 24, 2011. Canada celebrated its war ‘triumph’ with a victory parade on Parliament Hill, the only NATO ally to do so, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Julie Bélisle
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 30, 2020
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 30, 2020
A flypast of seven CF-18 and one CC-150 Polaris tanker takes place over Parliament to mark the end of Operation Mobile in Libya on Nov. 24, 2011. Canada celebrated its war ‘triumph’ with a victory parade on Parliament Hill, the only NATO ally to do so, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Julie Bélisle
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 23, 2020
Army Commander Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, left, and Chief of Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance are pictured on Aug. 20, 2019. In recent months there have been a number of separate high profile cases reported in the media wherein members of the Canadian Armed Forces were not only affiliated with right-wing extremists, but also involved in committing alleged illegal activities, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 23, 2020
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 23, 2020
Army Commander Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, left, and Chief of Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance are pictured on Aug. 20, 2019. In recent months there have been a number of separate high profile cases reported in the media wherein members of the Canadian Armed Forces were not only affiliated with right-wing extremists, but also involved in committing alleged illegal activities, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 16, 2020
After Corey Hurren allegedly crashed his truck through Rideau Hall's gates on July 2, it did not take CBC reporter Murray Brewster long to discover a rather disturbing story involving another member of his Ranger group, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 16, 2020
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 16, 2020
After Corey Hurren allegedly crashed his truck through Rideau Hall's gates on July 2, it did not take CBC reporter Murray Brewster long to discover a rather disturbing story involving another member of his Ranger group, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 9, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured on June 1 en route from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church after bringing in federal law enforcement officers and military police to clear protestors. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 9, 2020
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 9, 2020
U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured on June 1 en route from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church after bringing in federal law enforcement officers and military police to clear protestors. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead