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  January 23, 2019 | Local, Land

  Government inaugurates new armoury for Halifax Army Reserve

  January 23, 2019 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces As outlined in Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is investing in modern, functional, and green defence infrastructure to support the evolving needs of our military. Today, Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, on behalf of Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Willow Park Armoury in Halifax. Valued at $55.2 million, this project was completed on time and under budget, and provided significant economic opportunities for the local Halifax community by creating an estimated 250 jobs during construction. The new 8,574-m2 armoury will bring together three units from the Army Reserve in Halifax, the 36 Service Battalion, 36 Signal Regiment, and 33 Field Ambulance. It includes a modern administration and training space, facilities for storing and maintaining equipment, common mess areas, a large drill hall, and an outdoor compound for military vehicles. This new facility will provide these units with the required space and facilities to carry out critical operational and training exercises, while also accommodating their future growth. Quotes “Through our defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, our government is investing in a strong, modern, and capable Reserve Force. This new armoury will provide units from the Army Reserve in Halifax with functional and green infrastructure needed to carry out their important work at home and abroad, while also supporting their continued growth.” Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence “Our people are at the heart of our military's operational success. By investing in a new home for these three Reserve units, we are doing our part to support their well-being, while also ensuring they have the facilities needed to support their critical operations and training.” Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development “The opening of this new armoury represents an important milestone for the local Halifax community. In addition to directly supporting the important work of our Canadian Armed Forces, the new facility was built with environmental efficiency in mind, helping to reduce its carbon footprint in support of a cleaner, greener, Canada.” Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism Quick facts The new facility will be used by three Army Reserve units: 36 Service Battalion, 36 Signal Regiment, and 33 Field Ambulance. Contracts were awarded to two companies in Bedford, N.S. for this project. Bird Design-Build Construction Inc. was awarded a contract for the design and construction of the new armoury, as well as the demolition of two obsolete buildings. Dexter Construction Company Ltd. was awarded a contract for the demolition of a third obsolete building. Completed in August 2018, the new armoury was designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver standards, and incorporates green building concepts to minimize its footprint. Green infrastructure will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Department's buildings and non-military vehicles by 40 percent (from 2005 levels) by 2030, and supports the new federal emissions reduction target of 80 percent by 2050. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2019/01/government-inaugurates-new-armoury-for-halifax-army-reserve.html

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  February 12, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

  La quadrature du cercle de Trudeau

  ÉDITORIAL / Gouverner, c'est choisir. Ça ne fait pas que des heureux. Ça commence à donner des soucis à Justin Trudeau. Il n'y a pas d'issue facile à certains des litiges auxquels son gouvernement est confronté. L'exercice du pouvoir nourrit les rangs des mécontents ; à un moment donné, ils deviennent assez nombreux pour vous battre aux élections. Les libéraux n'en sont pas encore là, mais le premier ministre doit faire attention à l'accumulation d'accusations contre son gouvernement. Hier, le Canada a vu un contrat de 233 millions $ lui filer entre les doigts ; les Philippines ont annulé l'achat de 16 hélicoptères de l'usine québécoise Bell Helicopter. Ottawa hésitait à les vendre au régime de Manille qui s'en servirait pour mater des mouvements terroristes. Quand le président Rodrigo Duterte, un adepte de la ligne dure, a senti les craintes du Canada, il a demandé à ses dirigeants militaires de rompre l'entente et de trouver un autre fournisseur. Ces questions de principe sont difficiles à arbitrer. D'un côté, cette vente aurait assuré du travail à 900 personnes à Mirabel. Les Canadiens ignorent l'importance du commerce des armes au pays. Il fournit de l'emploi à plus de 100 000 travailleurs au pays et discrètement, le Canada s'est faufilé parmi les 10 premiers exportateurs au monde. C'est que les statistiques officielles ne disent pas tout. Une part des ventes consiste en des équipements d'appoint ou technologique. Ainsi, le Canada a déjà vendu des hélicos à la Colombie pour sa lutte contre des groupes révolutionnaires, mais seulement après avoir été modifiés. Ainsi, la vente n'apparaissait pas publiquement comme une de type militaire, même si c'était un secret de Polichinelle. Une autre transaction du genre, avec l'Arabie saoudite, continue de faire couler l'encre. Sous les conservateurs de Stephen Harper, Ottawa a permis en 2014 la vente de tanks légers pour 15 milliards $ et assurent de l'emploi à 3000 personnes de General Dynamics à Newmarket. En campagne électorale, M. Trudeau a diminué la portée de l'affaire, arguant que le Canada vendait « des Jeeps ». Mais personne ne reconnaîtrait un Jeep devant une photo de ces tanks légers, mais lourdement armés. Des organisations comme Amnesty International font pression contre ce contrat parce que selon leurs prétentions, le régime de Riyad se servirait de ces véhicules pour réprimer sa minorité chiite. La ministre des Affaires globales, Chrystia Freeland, a soutenu hier que des preuves vidéo de 2016 n'étaient pas concluantes, sans rendre public le rapport à cet effet. Les « Jeeps » de Justin Trudeau, puis cette vente avortée d'hélicoptères aux Philippines : le Canada est-il trop vertueux ? Se met-il la tête dans le sable ? Différents sondages indiquent que la population est partagée. Ajoutons au dossier l'approbation du pipeline Kinder Morgan entre l'Alberta et la Colombie-Britannique. Difficile de réconcilier les prétentions vertes du gouvernement Trudeau et le feu vert qu'il offre aux oléoducs... Comment rétablir la quadrature du cercle ? En fait, c'est impossible. Ottawa doit arbitrer entre les intérêts des uns et des autres, d'une province contre l'autre, d'une question de principe contre des emplois et une économie florissante. Les conservateurs penchaient systématiquement pour l'économie. Ils pratiquaient une forme d'aveuglement volontaire. Quant aux libéraux..., au moins disent-ils avoir soupesé le tout ; croyons-les sur parole, jusqu'à preuve du contraire. Parfois, les circonstances peuvent faire pencher d'un côté ou de l'autre. C'est l'arbitrage difficile du pouvoir. https://www.ledroit.com/opinions/pierre-jury/la-quadrature-du-cercle-de-trudeau-feba1bdc2307d1b066a537683911da28

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  November 11, 2019 | Local, Land

  Ukraine buys Canadian sniper rifles – delivery expected soon

  DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN Sniper rifles from PGW Defence Technologies of Winnipeg will be arriving soon in Ukraine. The company, with support of Global Affairs Canada, sold 50 LRT-3 sniper rifles to Ukraine's military, according to the Canadian Forces. Ukrainian government officials say the rifles are expected in the country very soon. Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar said in an interview with Ukrinform, the country's national news agency, that he believes the sniper rifle deal “will open the door to expanding the range of cooperation” between Ukraine and Canada on military equipment. Ukraine is also seeking armoured vehicles and other equipment from Canada. Canadian Forces personnel are working with Ukrainian snipers predominantly through a basic sniper course. They are mainly developing the Ukrainian instructors, but do provide some mentorship to the students, noted Canadian Forces spokesperson Capt. Leah Campbell. This is basically through watching and providing feedback to the students, she added. “Weapons that the students are using are provided or purchased by the Ukrainian Government,” explained Campbell in an email. “CAF personnel are not currently working with LRT-3 .50 caliber rifle. However, we are always responsive to our Ukrainian partners training needs and can adjust as appropriate.” In December 2017, the House of Commons defence committee recommended the government provide weapons to Ukraine, provided it demonstrates it is working to eliminate corruption at all levels of government. Senior officials from Ukraine's ministry of defence told the defence committee they would welcome arms from Canada, including anti-tank weapons. They told the committee that the Ukrainian military's sniper equipment was obsolete. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/ukraine-buys-canadian-sniper-rifles-delivery-expected-soon