Roll Up of CAF/Veteran/Invictus News - 31 May
HEROES AMONG US
The Canadian hero whose leadership prevented countless casualties in Afghanistan (msn.com)
The National Post has launched Heroes Among Us, a special series on Canadian military valour, celebrating courage in the presence of the enemy. Over the coming weeks, we will propose 10 heroic Canadians who could be the first-ever recipients of the Canadian Victoria Cross, created three decades ago as a homegrown version of the Commonwealth’s highest award for valour. In conjunction with the True Patriot Love Foundation, Anthony Wilson-Smith of Historica Canada, Gen. (ret’d) Rick Hillier and entrepreneur/benefactor Kevin Reed, we will celebrate them all at a June 26 gala at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In May 2008, then-Warrant Officer David Shultz was on his second tour in Afghanistan. He was in command of a team of Canadian Armed Forces members in Zhari district, just west of Kandahar. He was tasked with protecting officers who were visiting villages to meet tribal elders to discuss building schools and mosques, and potential threats from the Taliban.
REPATRIATION OF NEWFOUNDLAND’S UNKNOWN SOLDIER
Newfoundland’s unknown soldier finally home | CBC.ca
VIDEO: An emotional homecoming more than 100 years in the making. Current members of the Newfoundland Regiment tasked with bringing one of their own back to the province speak about what the repatriation of Newfoundland’s unknown soldier means to them.
Even a stout navy veteran like Frank Sullivan was unable to maintain his composure Thursday following an unexpected chance to pay his respects to an unknown Newfoundland soldier who will soon be repatriated to his native soil. "To actually go inside and be able to tap the coffin and say, 'you're going home, son.' I can't talk. It's too emotional," said Sullivan, his voice cracking as he spoke with reporters Thursday morning in the shadow of the Newfoundland Caribou Memorial in the small French village of Monchy-le-Preux.
Newfoundland's unknown soldier boards plane home | CBC.ca
VIDEO: Canadian military members carry a casket containing the remains of Newfoundland's unknown soldier onto a plane leaving France.
Newfoundland's unknown soldier is marched out of France | CBC.ca
VIDEO: Members of the Canadian military carried Newfoundland's unknown soldier out of Beaumont-Hamel on Saturday. The soldier is returning to St. John's and will be placed inside a newly built tomb at the Newfoundland National War Memorial.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home. The unknown soldier will return to Newfoundland and Labrador immediately after his remains are handed back to Canadian troops in a ceremony at Beaumont-Hamel on Saturday.
CAF | DND
Justin Trudeau called on to meet defence commitment | CTV News
A bipartisan group of 23 U.S. senators have written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging his country to live up to its commitment to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence amid concerns that key members of the NATO alliance are not pulling their weight. “As we approach the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., we are concerned and profoundly disappointed that Canada’s most recent projection indicated that it will not reach its two percent commitment this decade,” the senators wrote. “In 2029, Canada’s defence spending is estimated to rise to just 1.7 percent, five years after the agreed upon deadline of 2024 and still below the spending baseline.”
No sign Canada has plan to meet target: NATO ambassador | CTV News
The U.S. ambassador to NATO says despite the Canadian government claiming to “take the pledge very seriously,” she has seen no indication that Canada has a plan to reach the NATO spending target of two per cent of GDP on defence. In an exclusive interview on CTV’s Question Period airing Sunday, Julianne Smith told host Vassy Kapelos every member of the NATO alliance needs to “do its fair share,” which is required for collective “deterrence and defence” in the face of increasing global threats.
Canada purchasing 16 new fighter jets out of current budget, minister says | CBC News
The first 16 of the air force's new F-35 fighters will be paid for out of the current federal budget, even though Canada isn't expected to take delivery of the warplanes until 2026. Defence Minister Bill Blair pointed to the investment on Monday while defending the Liberal government's military spending plans before a House of Commons committee.
How Saab is betting big on its C71 ‘Expeditionary’ subs to win Canadian contest - Breaking Defense
… Following a disappointing loss earlier this year in a Dutch competition, Saab says it will double down on its latest submarine design, C71, for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, a program that has already captured the attention of numerous shipbuilders from around the globe with a reported price tag of at least $60 billion Canadian dollars for up to 12 submarines. Though a recent Canadian defense policy document was unclear about how many subs Ottawa will pursue, the competition is already gearing up and is expected to be fierce. The Royal Canadian Navy is in talks with companies from South Korea, Japan, Spain, Germany, France and Saab’s Kockums here in Sweden. … “It will come down to very much a political play again,” said Simon Carroll, president of Saab Canada, who traveled to Sweden to accompany reporters on a tour of the shipyard. “If you think fighters are political, submarines take it to another level,” he added[.]
Royal Canadian Navy not considering nuclear-powered subs despite Trudeau claim (msn.com)
The Royal Canadian Navy is not looking at the option of nuclear submarines despite earlier suggestions by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the contrary. The navy has been focused on the potential acquisition of convention-powered submarines for the past several years to eventually replace the existing Victoria-class submarines, according to emails from National Defence to this newspaper.
OP-ED: Incoming CDS must be setup for success (thestar.com)
If you think the world seems scary right now, you’re not alone. As he prepares for a well-deserved retirement, we should heed the parting assessment of Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Wayne Eyre: “The world is a far more dangerous place than at any time in recent memory.” To some, “Freedom isn’t Free” is nothing more than words on a bumper sticker — but sacrifice is a reality for thousands of our servicemen and women, as well as their families. They’re the ones we turn to when the chips are down. The least we can do is pay attention when their boss sends up a flare.
Blair announces training, equipment deals at military trade show (msn.com)
Defence Minister Bill Blair came to the country's largest defence industry trade show on Wednesday to announce billions of dollars in training and equipment deals for the armed forces, and faced yet more questions about Canada's commitment to the NATO spending target.
Canada to spend C$13.8 bln to replace defense training aircraft, support vehicles | Reuters
Canada announced on Monday defense contracts worth about C$13.8 billion ($10.1 billion) for 70 training aircraft and 1,500 trucks to replace aging fleets currently used by the armed forces. SkyAlyne Canada, a partnership between CAE (CAE.TO), opens new tab and KF Aerospace, was awarded a 25-year contract valued at C$11.2 billion for the aircraft which are expected to be used for training from spring 2029, Canada's defense ministry said in a statement.
Top general wants to limit Canadian military use in wildfires | Ottawa Citizen
The Canadian military’s ability to help battle forest fires will be limited this year because of reduced readiness and the need to send troops to Latvia, warns the country’s top general. Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre also complained that the use of military personnel in fighting wildfires in Canada has become, in some cases, “wickedly wasteful.”
Soldiers leaving Forces over ‘toxic leadership’, top adviser warns | Ottawa Citizen
Canada’s soldiers are leaving the ranks because of toxic military leadership, a top adviser to the chief of the defence staff has warned. Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer Bob McCann highlighted his warning April 23 during an appeal for changes in how leaders dealt with lower ranks. Job dissatisfaction and repeated moves to new locations across the country have been cited in past military reports as the top reasons that Canadian Forces personnel leave.
Statement to mark International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers - Canada.ca
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence; the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs; and the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, today issued the following statement: “For more than 75 years, United Nations peacekeepers have deployed to countries as diverse as Côte d’Ivoire, El Salvador, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia) and Timor Leste to act in the service of peace. Since 1948, more than 4,370 peacekeepers have died in service, including more than 120 Canadians.”
Exposing lies and revealing how tax dollars are spent (theijf.org)
The Investigative Journalism Foundation’s database of records released through Access to Information (ATI) requests is growing. Since its launch in March, Open By Default has provided quick and easy access to a wealth of information about the inner workings of the Canadian government — and we’ve just added more than 5,000 new documents on a staggering range of topics. … Newly added documents released by the Department of National Defence tell the story of the massive logistical effort it took to set up Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in Jordan in 2016. The mobilization was part of Operation Impact, Canada’s contribution to a global anti-terrorism campaign to combat Da’esh.
Bradford residents should soon have plenty of opportunities to let their spirits soar with pride for the air force. From June 10 to 14, the town will be hosting various events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), culminating on the Friday with a parade along Holland Street in the morning leading up to a special celebration at the library in the afternoon, featuring drop-in appearances from the SkyHawks parachute team.
VETERANS
ON TARGET: Time to Mobilize Our Canadian Armed Forces Veterans? — espritdecorps
… While it is a positive exercise in public relations to deploy the military to assist Canadian civilian victims of these disasters, the truth is that at some point the entire CAF institution will simply collapse. One potential solution would be to stand down Operation LENTUS as a regular force tasking. Let the CAF focus on rebuilding its ranks and managing its actual combat related duties. To backfill the government's ability to provide aid-to-the-civil-power, why not expand upon the existing veteran-led humanitarian organization named Team Rubicon Canada?
Barrie legion to mark D-Day's 80th anniversary with downtown parade - Barrie News (barrietoday.com)
…Steve Glover [the volunteer historian for Royal Canadian Legion Branch 147] and those at the legion are keen to share the stories of the Second World War through a Barrie lens with a larger audience in partnership with veterans, the Grey and Simcoe Foresters, Canadian Forces Base Borden and other stakeholders. They also want to mark the 80th anniversary of the allied invasion of Normandy involving 14,000 Canadians at Juno Beach that we know as D-Day, considered the turning point in the war.
Sharing remembrance of fallen soldiers through music - Squamish Chief
…[E]ight Greater Victoria piano students… have written their own piano compositions to honour soldiers from the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) who died during the D-Day landings along the Nazi-fortified beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. The students, who are in Grades 6 to 12, will play their music during an open house at the Bay Street Armoury on June 1 as the regiment marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The Music for Veterans Project, founded and operated by Victoria piano teacher Emily Armour, is in its third year and connects students and members of the Canadian Forces in a unique and very personal way.
… [Bill Seifried], the 77-year legion member, and current member of Branch 234 in Guelph, will head to Juno Beach on June 3 and attend the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France. One of three living Regina Rifle veterans, Seifried, 99, is the only one able to be present for the unveiling of the special statue honouring the regiment on June 5.
New mural unveiled in Wiarton Saturday at rededicated cenotaph | Owen Sound Sun Times
The crowd gathered on Berford Street in Wiarton cheered when the curtain dropped to unveil an impressive new military mural at the rededicated cenotaph Saturday.
WARNING: Some of the following articles contain graphic content and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it
CANADIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY | DND
5% of women at military colleges report being sexually attacked | CBC News
Five per cent of women attending Canadian military colleges surveyed in 2023 said they were sexually attacked during the previous 12 months by being threatened, held down or hurt and forced into unwanted sexual acts, according to survey results obtained by CBC News.
Defence minister calls reports of sexual assaults at military colleges 'unacceptable' | CBC.ca
VIDEO: Defence Minister Bill Blair says reports of sexual assaults and unwanted sexualized behavior at military colleges require a rapid response and will be dealt with. Blair responded to a report that found five per cent of women at military colleges report being sexually attacked.
AFGHAN INTERPRETER LAWSUIT
A federal public servant at Global Affairs who is being sued by a female former Afghan interpreter has now been charged criminally in relation to allegations in the lawsuit. Galal Eldien Ali, a 64-year-old resident of Ottawa, has been charged with 11 counts, including multiple counts of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a young person, assault, uttering threats and extortion. … Her civil suit seeks damages of $1.75 million from Ali and and more than $ 1 million from the government of Canada for punitive damages, mental suffering and loss of future or past economic gain. The woman says she met Ali at Camp Nathan Smith in Afghanistan. She says he helped her come to Canada under a special immigration program for Afghans.