Category Archives: Defence
Cost of Coast Guard ship nears $1B as questions mount over federal shipbuilding plan
OTTAWA — The federal government has quietly revealed that it plans to pay nearly $1 billion to build a new ocean research vessel for the Canadian Coast Guard whose original cost was supposed to be one-tenth that amount. The new cost
‘He saw dead people.’ Inquiry learns about the mental decline of Lionel Desmond
PORT HAWKESBURY, N.S. — Lionel Desmond experienced severe mental decline and horrible visions after he served as an infantryman in the Afghanistan war, a fatality inquiry in Nova Scotia learned Friday. The provincial inquiry, which resumed this week af...
‘It destroyed him.’ Lionel Desmond’s friend and fellow infantryman recalls firefights
PORT HAWKESBURY, N.S. — While serving in Afghanistan in 2007, Cpl. Lionel Desmond was well liked among the members of his platoon, mainly because of his goofy sense of humour. "He was very funny," Desmond's best friend and fellow platoon member,
Canada, Britain slap sanctions on Myanmar officials for abuses in military coup
OTTAWA — Canada and Britain have joined forces once again, this time to impose new sanctions on Myanmar after its military toppled its elected government in a coup. Canada has imposed sanctions on nine members of the Myanmar military under the
Lionel Desmond inquiry: Sister says her family received no help from Veterans Affairs
PORT HAWKESBURY, N.S. — The immediate family of a former Canadian soldier who killed three members of his family and himself received no support from Veterans Affairs after he returned home to Nova Scotia in 2016, the man's sister told
Canada expected to face pressure to reverse withdrawal, send troops to Iraq
OTTAWA — Canada is expected to face pressure this week to reverse a recent drawdown of troops from Iraq as the NATO military alliance prepares to expand its presence in the country. The alliance has persistent concerns about Islamic State extremists
London’s success housing homeless veterans touted as model for feds to follow
OTTAWA — An Ontario city says it has found a way to quickly and effectively get homeless veterans off the streets in a model that could be replicated in other municipalities. Those involved will note that it may be impossible to
Military deploys recon teams to border as feds prepare border-testing sites
OTTAWA — The Canadian Armed Forces is deploying reconnaissance teams to the border as the federal government prepares to enlist the military's help in establishing COVID-19 screening centres for travellers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last ...
Canada set to benefit as NATO considers compensation for military deployments
OTTAWA — The head of NATO is proposing member states be compensated for contributing troops to some alliance missions, saying it is unfair that countries like Canada must bear all the costs when participating in operations that benefit the entire
As the Lionel Desmond inquiry resumes, a look at what has been learned so far
HALIFAX — Lionel Desmond was a desperately ill man, and he knew it. The former Canadian soldier was suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and a possible traumatic brain injury when he was released from the military in 2015. Veterans Aff...
