Aging icebreakers, aircraft hamper Canada’s monitoring of Arctic: auditor general - National | Globalnews.ca

On the same subject

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  March 3, 2020 | Local, Aerospace

  Le secteur français de l’aéronautique et spatial en mode séduction à Montréal

  Par Maryse Jobin Le Groupement des industries françaises aéronautiques et spatiales (GIFAS) est en mission industrielle de trois jours au Canada pour renforcer la coopération franco-canadienne dans ce secteur. Durant cette mission, 60 sociétés industrielles françaises participent à des rencontres d'abord à Montréal, ensuite à Toronto et Ottawa. La coopération entre la France et le Canada dans les domaines de l'aéronautique et de l'espace existe depuis 70 ans. Une trentaine d'entreprises de l'Hexagone sont d'ailleurs implantées au pays. En 2016, le GIFAS choisissait Montréal pour installer son bureau de représentation pour l'Amérique du Nord. 405 sociétés, dont des maîtres d'œuvre, des équipementiers et des PME font partie du GIFAS. Par voie de communiqué, Éric Trappier, président du GIFAS et PDG de Dassault Aviation, a dit vouloir « renforcer davantage les liens qui unissent nos deux industries ». Selon lui, les compétences de haut niveau et le poids mondial de l'industrie canadienne « sont reconnus de tous ». Parmi les entreprises participant à cette mission, on retrouve Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Safran et Thales. Sept membres du conseil du GIFAS accompagnent son président Éric Trappier. Tous les deux ans, ce regroupement organise le Salon du Bourget à Paris, le plus grand salon aérospatial du monde. La filière française d'aéronautique, spatiale et de défense, est le premier secteur d'exportation de ce pays d'Europe. Son chiffre d'affaires en 2018 s'élevait à 65,4 milliards d'euros. https://www.rcinet.ca/fr/2020/03/02/gifas-eronautique-spatial-mode-seduction-montreal/

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  May 7, 2019 | Local, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

  Scheer government would seek to join U.S. missile defence program

  By Alex Boutilier Ottawa Bureau OTTAWA–Andrew Scheer will announce tomorrow that a Conservative government would start talks with the Trump administration to join the U.S. continental missile defence program, the Star has learned. While the U.S. has sought the Canadian government's co-operation on a missile defence program since the early 2000s, successive governments — both Liberal and Conservative — have refused. But two Conservative sources, who were not authorized to speak on the record, confirmed Scheer will announce a future Conservative government would pursue joining the program, which seeks to detect and stop missile attacks on the U.S. and its allies. Scheer will also announce his party's desire to “modernize” NORAD, the joint Canada-U.S. aerospace defence system, one source who had seen the text of the speech said. The announcements will come as part of a speech Scheer is scheduled to deliver Tuesday in Montreal on the Conservatives' approach to foreign policy. The speech is the first of five policy speeches Scheer is slated to deliver over the next five weeks. Scheer has released little in terms of policy since winning the Conservative leadership in May 2017, leading to Liberal attacks that he doesn't have a plan, especially on the environment. The speeches could blunt that criticism, while giving voters a better sense of what the Conservatives expect to include in their election platform. In addition to foreign affairs, Scheer will deliver speeches on immigration, the economy, “confederation” and the environment. The issue of a ballistic missile defence treaty with the United States has been a contentious one for successive Canadian governments. In 2005, then-prime minister Paul Martin refused to sign a deal with the Bush administration. Stephen Harper rebuffed similar requests from president Barack Obama, and the current Liberal government was similarly cold to the idea in its recently released defence policy overhaul. “The threats facing North America have evolved significantly in the air and maritime environment ... and weapons technology, including ballistic and cruise missiles, has advanced tremendously,” the defence framework reads. “Canada's policy with respect to participation in ballistic missile defence has not changed. However, we intend to engage the United States to look broadly at emerging threats and perils to North America, across all domains, as part of NORAD modernization.” Canadian governments' reluctance to join the American missile defence shield has typically had more to do with domestic politics than national security or defence considerations, according to Eugene Lang, an adjunct professor at the Queen's University school of policy studies. “There's been a lot of political sensitivity around it for Canadian governments that were feeling it was going to be controversial for Canada to sign on to this thing,” said Lang, who served as chief of staff to two Liberal defence ministers. “That was certainly the case in the early 2000s with the Bush administration because the Bush administration's foreign and military policy was deeply unpopular in Canada. Now the Trump administration's military and security policy, I don't know if it's deeply unpopular (but) we know Trump is deeply unpopular.” Whoever wins the upcoming federal election will likely face increased pressure from the Trump administration to participate — and help pay for — a planned update of the U.S. ballistic missile defence system. In January, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will deploy a new space-based system for detecting and stopping ballistic missiles aimed at the U.S. and its allies. But Trump also said that the allies who benefit from that defence system will be expected to pay their share of the cost. With files from the Canadian Press https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/05/06/scheer-government-would-seek-to-join-us-missile-defence-program.html

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  March 31, 2020 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Canadian military on notice to provide logistic support, help vulnerable populations in wake of COVID-19

  Canada's top general says the military is in the process of determining what forces would be required to assist federal and provincial governments in responding to the novel coronavirus and that response will be geared to supporting vulnerable populations and providing logistics support. There has been no official call yet for the use of military forces from federal, provincial or territorial governments. But Canadian Forces planners are preparing for such a request. “Our tasks will be geared to support Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Municipal governments and agencies in their efforts to suppress the disease, to support vulnerable populations and to provide logistical and general support to communities,” Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance noted in a statement released Friday on social media. “To do this we are now in the process of identifying the forces required, including our incredibly valuable Primary Reserves and Canadian Rangers. These forces will be organized down to individual level into task forces able to deploy by sea, road or air to where they are needed.” More information will come in the next week, Vance said. But defence sources tell this newspaper that the response if needed will, among other areas, focus on providing support to remote Indigenous communities. Such communities have limited resources, particularly in the area of health and medical capabilities. The Canadian Forces has an extensive logistics capability with its fleet of vehicles and aircraft. It can also set up mobile shelters and medical facilities. Vance noted that many military personnel volunteer in their communities but such work must now be restricted to first responder duties since they are required to be ready for Canadian Forces duties at short notice. “When it's time, we will marshal forces, conduct reconnaissance and deploy as, where and when required,” he added. In his message to military personnel and their families, Vance also announced that the Canadian Forces will go ahead with its annual process of shifting personnel around the country for promotions and new jobs, albeit at a reduced level. The annual military posting season comes at a time when federal government officials are advising Canadians to stay at home and practice physical distancing in an effort to reduce the number of cases of COVID-19. “It is our intention to execute as many of the planned postings as is responsible and reasonable to do,” Vance explained. He noted that the overall number of moves will be reduced significantly and they must be vetted and approved by senior leaders as operationally essential. The busiest time for postings and relocations from one community to another is during what is known as the “Active Posting Season” or APS, according to the Canadian Forces. During APS, about 5,000 to 6,000 members receive their posting messages, usually during the spring and most of the movement is carried out in the summer. Vance said the active posting season will be lengthened to conclude by Dec. 31. In addition, Vance warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting normal administration procedures for the Canadian Armed Forces or CAF. “To reduce the administrative risks and to preserve our strength as recruiting has almost ceased, transition out of the CAF and retirements may be voluntarily delayed,” he warned. “Those who are releasing voluntarily but wish to remain in the CAF are welcome to do so and appropriate terms of service will be offered. Those wishing to continue with transition may do so, but you must expect significant delays and disruptions.” Vance also encouraged former military personnel to rejoin the Canadian Forces. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-military-on-notice-to-provide-logistic-support-help-vulnerable-populations-in-wake-of-covid-19/