Category Archives: Defence
Canada’s border agency urgently developing biometric plans in response to COVID-19
OTTAWA — Canada's border agency has an "urgent need" to hire a global technology firm to help develop a biometric strategy in response to rapidly evolving issues including COVID-19. The Canada Border Services Agency issued a notice of procurement Monda...
‘Cracks’ appearing as Canadian military faces confluence of challenges: defence chief
OTTAWA — Canada's top military commander says he is starting to see "cracks" as the Canadian Armed Forces faces a confluence of challenges — many of them unprecedented — both at home and abroad. In an interview with The Canadian Press,
Soldier cleared of charges related to alleged incidents in Nova Scotia
OTTAWA — A member of the Canadian Armed Forces has been found not guilty of sexual assault and forcible confinement after prosecutors declined to present any evidence against him. Master Cpl. Anthony Chand was charged in February 2020 with sexual assau...
Victims of military sexual trauma turned away from peer-support programs: ombudsman
OTTAWA — Canada's veterans ombudsman is adding her voice to long-standing calls for the federal government to create a dedicated peer-support program for those who have experienced sexual trauma while serving in uniform. The request follows an investig...
Canadian military-goods exports dropped last year as sales to Saudi Arabia fell
OTTAWA — The federal government reported Tuesday the value of Canadian military-goods exports fell last year as its sales to Saudi Arabia dropped. Canada's annual report on exports of military equipment says in 2020 it sold approximately $1.966 billion...
Retired judge calls for overhaul of military’s handling of sexual misconduct cases
OTTAWA — A retired Supreme Court justice has found that sexual misconduct in the military is as pervasive and destructive now as it was six years ago, and that significant changes are required to address the problem. Morris Fish's findings are
Military’s diversity, inclusion efforts plagued by shortcomings: internal review
OTTAWA — An internal Defence Department review completed last fall found significant problems and shortcomings in attempts to promote diversity and inclusion across the Canadian Armed Forces. Those problems included a lack of leadership and insufficien...
Military deployed to help Manitoba; Trudeau supports search for COVID-19 origin
Members of the military are being deployed to Manitoba where surging COVID-19 cases have overwhelmed hospitals, while the prime minister has put his support behind international efforts to understand how the global pandemic began. "I know there are a l...
Battle over independence of military judges expands to include Appeal Court
OTTAWA — A landmark legal battle over the independence of judges responsible for overseeing military courts martial has gone meta with new questions over the autonomy of a judge hearing the case. The Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada hearing revolve...
Pandemic throwing wrench in construction of new navy, coast guard ships: officials
OTTAWA — COVID-19 has thrown yet another wrench in the long overdue construction of new ships for the navy and coast guard, say top military and procurement officials, adding the full scope of the damage won't be known until after
