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July 24, 2024 | Local, Land

Defence industry rep says Canada on ‘hamster wheel’ of red tape as ammo contracts fail to materialize

Canadian efforts to boost ammunition production among domestic firms is caught in a “hamster wheel” of red tape, warns industry official

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/defence-industry-rep-says-canada-on-hamster-wheel-of-red-tape-as-ammo-contracts-fail-to-materialize

On the same subject

  • Ottawa launches lonfyig-awaited competition for purchase of armed military drones

    February 14, 2022 | Local, Aerospace

    Ottawa launches lonfyig-awaited competition for purchase of armed military drones

    The federal government has officially launched a competition for the purchase of armed drones after nearly two decades of delays and discussion around whether Canada should buy the controversial weapons. A formal request for proposals was released Friday to the two companies shortlisted to bid on the $5-billion contract, which could see the Canadian Armed Forces launch a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles in the next few years. A formal contract is not expected for another year or two, while the first drone isn't scheduled for delivery until at least 2025, with the last to arrive in the early 2030s. The request does not say how many vehicles the government plans to buy, and instead leaves it up to the two companies to say how their bids will satisfy the military's needs while benefiting the Canadian economy. It does reveal the aircraft will be based at 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia and 19 Wing Comox in British Columbia, while the main control centre will be in the Ottawa area. Yellowknife is also identified as a forward operating location. The drone force will include around 240 air force members, with 55 in Greenwood, 25 in Comox and 160 in Ottawa. While delivery is still years away, the fact the military has reached even this point represents a major step forward after almost 20 years of work to identify and buy a fleet of UAVs to conduct surveillance over Canadian territory and support missions abroad. Aside from purchasing a small number of temporary, unarmed drones for the war in Afghanistan – all of which have since been retired – the military has never been able to make much progress on a permanent fleet. That was despite drones taking on an increasingly important role in militaries around the world. A report in the Royal Canadian Air Force Journal in late 2015 said 76 foreign militaries were using drones and another 50 were developing them. One major reason: no federal government had authorized adding drones as a permanent fixture within the military in the same vein as fighter-jet or helicopter squadrons until the Liberal government included them in its 2017 defence policy. The government and military say the unmanned aircraft will be used for surveillance and intelligence gathering as well as delivering pinpoint strikes from the air on enemy forces in places where the use of force has been approved. Some have previously criticized the decision to buy armed drones given concerns about their potential use in Canada and numerous reports of air strikes by other nations, particularly the United States and Russia, causing unintended damage and civilian casualties. The government has also said little about the scenarios in which force might be used, including whether drones could be deployed for assassinations. Officials have suggested they would be used in the same way as conventional weapons such as fighter jets and artillery. “While the (drones) will be a medium-altitude long-endurance system with a precision strike capability, it will only be armed when necessary for the assigned task,” the Defence Department said Friday. “At all times, employment of precision strike capability will adhere to the Law of Armed Conflict, as well as any other applicable domestic or international laws. Use of force will be applied following rules of engagement applicable to the CAF.”

  • Government of Canada announces call to launch intellectual property collective

    February 13, 2019 | Local, Other Defence

    Government of Canada announces call to launch intellectual property collective

    Pilot project will help Canadian companies reap the full benefits of IP to grow their business February 13, 2019 – Ottawa, Ontario When Canadian companies put intellectual property (IP) at the core of their business strategy, they are better positioned to grow and succeed. This is why the Government of Canada is making sure that our small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) have the tools and supports they need to expand their business and become more competitive. Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, launched the Patent Collective pilot program to assist SMEs with their patent and other IP needs. Canadian entities that can gather a team with experience in delivering high-quality patent advice are invited to apply. The chosen applicant will receive $30 million in funding over four years to create a non-profit organization that will work with companies in a selected sector to help them use their IP more strategically. Announced as part of the five-year Intellectual Property Strategy, the pilot project will provide the Government with valuable insight into the IP issues faced by SMEs. The new collective will have an opportunity to shape how the program will support member businesses, customize services to suit clients' needs, and identify how best to support the strategic use of IP in scaling companies. Quotes “Intellectual property is at the core of innovative businesses. For Canada's economy to succeed, we need to ensure that companies of all sizes have the tools to grow, expand and become competitive global players. With this new patent initiative, we are providing small and medium-sized enterprises with the IP support they can use to build their business, boost economic growth and compete and win on the world stage.” – The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Quick facts The Intellectual Property Strategy was announced in Budget 2018. Interested applicants can visit Canada.ca/patent-collective. Small and medium-sized businesses that hold formal IP are three times more likely to engage in product innovation than those without IP. They are also two times more likely to engage in other types of innovation, four times more likely to export, and 64% more likely to be high growth. IP-intensive businesses pay 16% more, on average, than businesses with little or no IP. Businesses using IP in patent-intensive industries have about 8 to 10 times more revenues than those not using IP. Contacts Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA Dani Keenan Press Secretary Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development 343-291-1710 Media Relations Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 343-291-1777 ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2019/02/government-of-canada-announces-call-to-launch-intellectual-property-collective.html

  • Military to look at cutting capabilities, using public servants to handle more jobs, says directive from top general and deputy minister

    June 30, 2022 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Military to look at cutting capabilities, using public servants to handle more jobs, says directive from top general and deputy minister

    The Canadian Forces will get rid of some capabilities as well as examine having public servants and contractors take on roles now handled by military…

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