December 7, 2024 | Local, Land
DND confirms malfunction of new anti-tank missiles heading to Latvia
There were problems with five out of eight of the new Canadian Forces Spike missiles.
Canada extends ban on arms sales to NATO ally Turkey
Murray Brewster
Canada's ban on new arms exports to Turkey has been extended indefinitely, Global Affairs confirmed today.
The Liberal government imposed a suspension on the approval of export permits last fall after Turkish forces launched an incursion into northern Syria.
Charles-Marie Matte, deputy director of the export controls division at Global Affairs, said in an email that approvals have been suspended "until further notice."
The government of Turkish President Recep Erdoğan has insisted the incursion was necessary to create a buffer zone against Kurdish militia forces.
Turkey is on a Canadian government list of "trusted" countries where Canadian defence contractors can safely do business and sell sophisticated, restricted weapons.
While some permit applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, the revised notification makes it clear that certain military items "will be presumptively denied" to Turkey. In other words, companies with those goods shouldn't even bother applying for permission to sell them to Turkey.
'Exceptional circumstances'
The items in question include ammunition, light weapons, armour, protective equipment and electronics.
"Exceptional circumstances" related to Canada's international alliance commitments might see the government consider issuing a permit, the notice said.
An example might be the export of components for "a NATO missile defence system," Matte said in an email.
Turkey has said it's willing to buy U.S.-made MIM-104 Patriot air defence missiles system if it gets a good price from Washington.
The country's foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, was quoted in international publications last week saying his country was interested in the purchase as part of a solution to the stalemate with the Trump administration over the Erdogan government's purchase of a Russian-made S-400 air defence system.
Cavusoglu also repeated Turkey's offer to lead "a technical working group" with NATO to iron out concerns about his country operating the Russian system while still being part of the alliance.
U.S. defence contractor Raytheon, which has a branch in Canada, manufactures the Patriot missile system.
Rising tensions with Syria
Since the incursion last fall, tensions between Turkey and Syria have only increased and came close to boiling over last winter.
There were direct clashes between the Turkish army and Syrian government forces in late February and early March. An air strike on rebel-held territory in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on Feb 27 killed 34 Turkish soldiers.
In response, Turkey shot down three Syrian warplanes and has used armed drones to carry out several attacks on forces loyal to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Several other countries — including France, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain and Germany — have imposed an arms embargo on Turkey.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/turkey-canada-arms-sales-nato-1.5541714
On the same subject
-
-
May 1, 2019 | Local, Naval, Security
Government of Canada awards contract to Chantier Davie for refit of Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker and unveils names of interim icebreakers
LÉVIS, QC, April 30, 2019 /CNW/ - Icebreaking is a key factor in ensuring the safe and efficient movement of people and goods on Canadian waterways, and helps contribute to year-round shipping and economic growth. That is why the Government of Canada is committed to providing the Canadian Coast Guard with the equipment it needs to ensure these waterways are kept safe and open for business. The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, and the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, announced today that Chantier Davie of Lévis, Quebec, was awarded a contract of $7,198,164.30 for the dry-dock refit of the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, Canada's largest icebreaker. The scheduled refit of the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent will ensure the Canadian Coast Guard continues to provide critical icebreaking and other marine services effectively. This contract was awarded on April 15, 2019following an Advanced Contract Award Notice issued on November 16, 2018. Minister Wilkinson also announced the names of the two interim icebreakers currently undergoing conversion work at Chantier Davie; CCGS Jean Goodwill and CCGS Vincent Massey. These ships will be available to support Coast Guard programs by late 2019 and summer 2020, respectively. In December 2018, the Canadian Coast Guard accepted the first of three interim icebreakers which were acquired to supplement its existing fleet during vessel life extension and repair periods. CCGS Jean Goodwill takes its name from one of the founding members of the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada and contemporary champion of public health services for Indigenous people. CCGS Vincent Massey, is named after the first Canadian appointed to the post of Governor General, which until then was occupied by British born individuals. The Right Honourable Vincent Massey was appointed Governor General on the recommendation of then Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent. CCGS Jean Goodwill and CCGS Vincent Massey will be part of the national Coast Guard fleet which carries out icebreaking duties in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes, and Arctic regions. CCGS Jean Goodwill's homeport will be in Halifax, NS, and CCGS Vincent Massey in Quebec City, QC. Quotes "The refit of CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent is an important part of the planned maintenance of the Coast Guard's icebreaking fleet. Regular maintenance helps ensure our largest vessel is ready to provide essential icebreaking services to Canadians, especially in the Arctic where shipping escorts are essential to resupplying northern communities. Furthermore, we look forward to welcoming CCGS Jean Goodwill and CCGS Vincent Massey to the fleet to help support the Coast Guard with the essential work they do in Canadian waters." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard "Canadians from coast to coast to coast rely on the Canadian Coast Guard to protect their coastlines and their livelihoods. This contract will ensure the men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard are properly equipped to do their important work, while also helping sustain good middle-class jobs at the Davie Shipyard." The Honourable Carla Qualtrough Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility "Our government's contract award to Davie Shipyard is a testament to the exceptional expertise of the shipbuilding workers in our region. Their internationally recognized expertise and professionalism will continue to be put to work for the benefit of the Canadian Coast Guard, the safety of our waterways and our economy." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos Member of Parliament for Québec Quick Facts The CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent is Canada's largest icebreaker, homeported in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Icebreakers are crucial to Coast Guard services, vital to the safety of mariners, the protection of coastal waters, resupply of northern communities and the orderly flow of commerce through Canadian waters. The award of this contract follows an Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN), which was issued on November 16, 2018 and closed on December 4, 2018. The ACAN process helps to ensure a fair, open, and transparent procurement process, by allowing any interested supplier to demonstrate how it could meet the requirements of the ACAN. As of December 2018, the value of the work awarded under the repair, refit and maintenance portion of the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) is now over $4.5B.This includes $1.56B in contracts awarded to Quebec shipyards under the NSS. On December 14, 2018, the Canadian Coast Guard accepted the first of three interim icebreakers being converted by Chantier Davie as part of a $610-million contract awarded in August 2018. The three icebreakers were acquired to supplement the Coast Guard's existing fleet during vessel life extension and repair periods, providing continuous on-water capability during scheduled maintenance periods. In accordance with the Canadian Coast Guard ship naming policy, CCGS Jean Goodwill and CCGS Vincent Massey were named to honour Canadian leaders who made significant contributions to Canada. Associated Links Canadian Coast Guard's new icebreakers National Shipbuilding Strategy Canadian Coast Guard Navigation Officer Program Stay Connected Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Subscribe to receive our news releases and more via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/rss-eng.htm. SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada For further information: Jocelyn Lubczuk, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, 343-548-7863, Jocelyn.lubczuk@dfo-mpo.gc.ca; Media Relations, Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, 613-990-7537, Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-awards-contract-to-chantier-davie-for-refit-of-canadian-coast-guard-icebreaker-and-unveils-names-of-interim-icebreakers-857320833.html
-
May 12, 2024 | Local, Security
Canada presses Germany to boost parts production as Ukraine struggles to field its Leopard tanks | CBC News
Germany’s defence minister acknowledged Friday that countries like Canada — and to a lesser extent Ukraine — are in a tough spot when it comes to maintaining older variants of the Leopard 2 main battle tank and keeping them in the field.