Canadian Coast Guard to officially open new Search and Rescue station in Kingston, Ontario

On the same subject

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  May 22, 2020 | Local, Aerospace

  Unmanned Systems Canada announces #UC20Remote Virtual Conference

  Unmanned Systems Canada/Systèmes Télécommandés Canada (USC-STC) recently announced that its 18th annual Unmanned Canada Conference and Exhibition will be presented virtually this year, allowing for an even greater variety of keynotes and content from Canadian and international experts – with none of the concerns associated with COVID-19. USC-STC's online conference, UC20Remote, will take place at the same time planned for its physical conference – early November 2020. “Taking UnmannedCanada.20 online will equal or surpass our established tradition of exceptional conference experience and content,” said conference chair Jordan Cicoria. “The virtual venue allows us to bring experts from around the globe together in a way never before possible.” USC-STC's conference committee made the decision after carefully weighing the benefits of offering a virtual conference experience during the COVID-19 era. Those benefits include: The ability to provide an equivalent, high-quality conference experience with our usual high standard of keynotes and speakers; New option to access conference proceedings and materials post-event; Multiple ticket choices during a year when many companies expect to see budgets for travel and conference slashed; Value for sponsors and exhibitors with the virtual exhibition floor. The UC20Remote conference — as with other annual USC-STC events — will gather key providers, thought leaders, and regulators from the unmanned industry around the globe. “We can assure attendees this will be a memorable and high-quality event at price points suitable for every budget,” said USC-STC chair Michael Cohen. “I look forward to welcoming familiar faces — and new ones — for a spectacular online gathering this November.” https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/unmanned-systems-canada-announces-uc20remote-virtual-conference

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  April 21, 2021 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Federal budget resurrects 'economic harm' warning as fighter jet contract nears | CBC News

  Defence contractors, perhaps one in particular, were served notice in Monday's budget that the Liberal government will penalize companies that try to do the country economic harm. The policy was a feature of a nasty trade dispute between Ottawa and U.S.-based Boeing over three years ago. Its resurrection comes as Boeing is one of the bidders for the replacement of the RCAF's fighters.

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  November 23, 2018 | Local, Naval

  Failed bidder files trade challenge against Ottawa's frigate design pick

  Murray Brewster · CBC News Move comes after Alion Canada challenged frigate design pick in Federal Court The federal government's decision to select a group of companies led by Lockheed Martin Canada to design and support the construction of the navy's new frigates is now facing a trade challenge, on top of a Federal Court challenge filed last week. Alion Science and Technology Corp. and its subsidiary, Alion Canada, have asked the Canadian International Trade Tribunal to look into the procurement deal. They're telling the tribunal that Lockheed Martin's design will need substantial changes to meet the federal government's requirements, which would mean higher costs and more delays. The company last week separately asked the Federal Court for a judicial review and an order quashing the decision, which saw Public Services and Procurement Canada select Lockheed Martin Canada as the preferred bidder on the $60 billion program. Alion pitched the De Zeven Provinciën Air Defence and Command (LCF) frigate, a Dutch-designed warship that is already in service in other countries. More delays? Depending upon how they play out, said defence procurement expert Dave Perry, both challenges have the potential to further delay the frigate program. Federal procurement officials had hoped to nail down a fully fledged design contract with Lockheed Martin by the winter. Perry, who works with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said he expects those negotiations to continue — unless the Federal Court orders them to halt. "Unless there is a compelling reason to stop, they are going to keep going," he said. "There is a recognition of the urgency across the board." That urgency is partly due to the program's legacy of delays, which have stretched the design competition out for almost two years. Public Services and Procurement Canada would not comment on the matter because it is before the courts, but a senior official, speaking on background Thursday, said the federal government has up to 20 days to respond to the court challenge. The official — who was not authorized to speak on the record because of the sensitivity of the file — said there is flexibility built into the timeline and the government is optimistic it can meet its goal of an early 2019 contract signing. Perry said there are aspects of both the court challenge and the application to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal that he finds puzzling. Alion claimed in its court filing that the winning bid was "incapable of meeting three critical mandatory requirements" of the design tender. Speed bump The company said, for instance, that the Type 26 cannot meet the mandatory speed requirements set out by the navy and that both Public Services and Procurement Canada and Irving Shipbuilding, the yard overseeing the construction, should have rejected the bid outright. Perry said the criteria cited by Alion were among the first the federal government evaluated. "The rest of Lockheed Martin's bid wouldn't have been looked at if the Crown and Irving was not satisfied that the bid met each of those [initial] criteria," he said. "It's a weird dynamic." Alion's trade tribunal application argues in considerable detail that in order for the Type 26 to meet Ottawa's speed requirement, it will have to undergo considerable redesign. The court application also cites the fact that the design tender was amended 88 times and those changes "effectively diluted the [warship] requirements" and allowed the government and Irving to select "an unproven design platform." Unlike its two competitors, the Type 26 has yet to enter service with the Royal Navy. Competitors have privately knocked it as "paper ship." Navantia, a Spanish-based company, was the other bidder in the competition. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/failed-bidder-files-trade-challenge-against-ottawa-s-frigate-design-pick-1.4916881