Canadian Space Agency Adds New Events for its Deep-space Healthcare Initiative

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  May 16, 2023 | Local, Other Defence

  Canadian Armed Forces donate $6.5 million in equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces

  May 16, 2023 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces On April 26 2023, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) held a ceremony in Beirut, Lebanon, where $6.5 million in non-lethal equipment was donated to the LAF. Equipment donated included snowshoes, trekking poles, snowmobiles, first aid kits, utility task vehicles, explosive ordnance disposal equipment and solar panels. This equipment will support the LAF and is in addition to the training that the CAF has provided throughout the year, including training in combat first aid, civil-military co-operation, and winter warfare techniques. Since 2016, the Canadian Training and Assistance Team – Lebanon (CTAT-L) has provided specialized equipment donations to the LAF and trained over 2,000 LAF personnel as part of its enduring mission to contribute to security and stability in the region, under the mandate of Operation (Op) IMPACT. Canadian Ambassador to the Lebanese Republic, Stefanie McCollum; Deputy Commander of Op IMPACT, Colonel Jay Lachine; LAF Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, Brigadier-General Hassan Jounieh; as well as several other senior CAF and LAF officers and non-commissioned officers, attended the donation ceremony. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2023/05/canadian-armed-forces-donate-65-million-in-equipment-to-the-lebanese-armed-forces.html

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  January 15, 2020 | Local, Security

  RCAF still dealing with legal issues on new rescue aircraft name – military doesn’t know when it will be able to announce a name

  DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN Updated: January 13, 2020 The RCAF is still working its way through various legal issues as it tries to come up with an official Canadian name for the Airbus C-295 aircraft, the service's new fixed wing search and rescue plane. The new name was supposed to be selected by November at the earliest and December at the latest. But now the RCAF says it doesn't know when it will announce a name for the planes. “The list of possible names for the CC-295 has been further narrowed down, and those names are currently undergoing legal, contractual, and trademark vetting,” RCAF spokesperson Major Jill Lawrence explained to Defence Watch. “Once the process is complete, and when appropriate, the RCAF will formally announce the new name. At this time, there is no anticipated date for that announcement.” No details were provided on the new shortlisted names. The RCAF first consulted the operational search and rescue community which came up with ten names, later narrowed down to five. After that, the public was asked to vote on the names. Around 33,000 people voted, according to Lt.-Col. Steve Neta, the director of RCAF public affairs. Another 1,600 comments were left on various RCAF social media sites. The RCAF then went back to its search and rescue personnel for more consultation. The RCAF published the five names being considered and an explanation for each name: CANSO II: Canso aircraft served with 11 RCAF squadrons during the Second World War. They operated from both coasts and were employed in coastal patrols, convoy protection and submarine hunting. After the Second World War, Cansos served with the RCAF in photo reconnaissance and search and rescue roles until they were finally retired in November 1962. GUARDIAN: A guardian is an entity that protects a community under a set of values. IRIS: Iris refers to the faculty or power of seeing. Iris was also the goddess of sea and sky in ancient Greek mythology. KINGFISHER: Found all across Canada, this bird patrols up and down rivers, constantly searching for prey. Within the First Nations of the Northwest, the kingfisher has long been recognized for its speed and agility, as well as its keen searching and hunting skills. A kingfisher was depicted on the 1986 Canadian five-dollar banknote in the “Birds of Canada” series. TURNSTONE: Turnstones are one of the migratory marvels of the Arctic bird world. They have been known to fly more than 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) in a single day. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/rcaf-still-dealing-with-legal-issues-on-new-rescue-aircraft-name-military-doesnt-know-when-it-will-be-able-to-announce-a-name

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  January 24, 2019 | Local, Naval

  Government will review towing vessel contract after procurement process questioned by trade tribunal

  DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The federal government will review a contract awarded last year for emergency towing vessels after the Canadian International Trade Tribunal raised questions about its procurement process. In early January, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal recommended the government review the key performance requirements used in the procurement of two emergency towing vessels for the west coast from an Irving firm. Heiltsuk Horizon, a partnership of majority partner Heiltsuk Nation of Bella Bella, British Columbia and Horizon Maritime Services Limited, a Canadian marine services company, complained to the CITT last August that the winning supplier did not meet important safety requirements of the tender process. “We're confident with the new, state of the art vessels we've submitted, and we want to ensure the right emergency response vessels are in place to protect the vital coastal economies and fragile ecosystems of British Columbia's coast,” Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett of the Heiltsuk Nation said Thursday about the decision to review the contract. At the time, the CITT recommended Public Services and Procurement Canada re-evaluate some of its mandatory requirements and that no further expenditure under the contact be undertaken. However, the tribunal also recommended that the contract remain with the winning bidder, Atlantic Services Limited/Atlantic Towing, until the evaluation can be completed. In August, the federal government announced the firm had been awarded a three-year contract worth $67 million for the lease of two emergency offshore towing vessels that would operate in the waters off the coast of British Columbia. The vessels were to be capable of towing large commercial ships in distress, such as tankers and container ships, before they get too close to shore, according to the federal government. As part of the contract, the firm, which is an Irving company, would also provide training in offshore emergency towing to Canadian Coast Guard personnel and partners, including Indigenous communities, involved in marine safety. But Heiltsuk Horizon challenged that award, pointing out that the contract was awarded without the required proof the vessels met the mandated towing power. The firm noted that the procurement process was flawed. In a letter to Heiltsuk Horizon, the CITT recommended Public Services and Procurement Canada reevaluate the “bollard pull” (towing power) of the vessels in all bids received. The CITT also awarded Heiltsuk Horizon costs incurred in submitting the complaint. Mary Keith, vice president of communications for Irving, issued a statement at the time from Atlantic Towing, pointing out that the tribunal did not declare the firm's bid non-compliant. “This is good news and reaffirms the integrity of the rigorous and transparent award process by PWGSC that also involved a third party fairness monitor,” the statement added. “The Tribunal has requested verification of one item and we are confident in our full compliance. The Bollard Pull on our vessels are verified and certified by one of the world's leading marine certification companies.” https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/government-will-review-towing-vessel-contract-after-procurement-process-question