As part of its fleet renewal plan, the Canadian Coast Guard is acquiring two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) to replace two of the five existing offshore patrol vessels. The new AOPS will support offshore patrol of international fisheries surveillance and Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization patrols, and offshore search and rescue on Canada’s east coast and in the Arctic.
22 juillet 2024 | Local, Terrestre, Sécurité
In a mid-summer interview, Petitpas Taylor caught up with iPolitics to discuss the most pressing issues in the veterans affairs file, Gen. Jennie Carignan becoming the first woman to lead the Canadian Armed Forces, and what she’s hearing from veterans across the country.
14 avril 2020 | Local, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité
Do you know someone who deserves to be celebrated? VIMY AWARD CALL FOR NOMINATIONS DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED? Nominations Now Open for the annual Vimy Award presented at the 30th edition of the Vimy Gala. Established in 1991, the Vimy Award recognizes a Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of our nation and the preservation of our democratic values. It is normally presented as a lifetime achievement award. Past Recipients Her Excellency Adrienne Clarkson The Right Honourable Joe Clark The Honourable Bill Graham MGen Romeo Dallaire 2020 Distinguished Selection Committee Members Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Richard Wagner Chief of Defence Staff LGen Jonathan Vance Deputy Minister Jody Thomas The award honours the bravery and sacrifice of the Canadian soldiers – comprising the four divisions of the Canadian Corps – who were victorious in the battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. The selection committee includes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and the Chief of Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as industry and academic partners of the CDA Institute and members of the Board of Directors. Do you know someone who; Has made a sustained national or international contribution to Canada's National Security, Defence and/or the Canadian Military during his/her professional career. Serves as an inspiration at a national level within the Security, Defence and Military Community, through their leadership, practices, and accomplishments. Has garnered national and/or international recognition for his/her contributions to Canadian National Security, Defence and/or the Canadian Armed Forces. Is a leader whose achievements will be a source of historic and patriotic pride for generations to come. Nominations Deadline: July 1,2020 VISIT VIMY AWARD PAGE FOR FULL DETAILS VIMY GALA The Vimy Award will be presented at the prestigious Vimy Gala held on November 6, 2020 at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario. The Vimy Gala is a black-tie cocktail and dinner held annually since 1991 in Ottawa to honour Canada's fallen heroes in the context of the Remembrance Day activities held across the country. The Gala brings together active and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces alongside future officers currently enrolled at the Royal Military Colleges, as well as industry and government leaders and international guests of honour. It will be an evening to remember and to reflect upon the sacrifices many have made for our nation and for the sake of building a more just and prosperous world. It is also a celebration of Canada and men and women who serve. The Gala is also an opportunity for defence professionals to recognize outstanding individuals in our community, whose courage, vision, and achievements inspire us all. To that end, we present the Vimy Award to a Canadian who has made an outstanding, lifelong contribution to our national security and defence and to preserving our democratic values. Past recipients include Her Excellency Adrianne Clarkson, the Honourable BIll Graham, General Rick Hillier, and the Right Honourable Joe Clark,LGen Christine Whitecross and most recently, Richard B. Fadden, O.C. 2019 Richard B. Fadden, O.C Vimy Award Acceptance Speech: 2020 and Beyond: Where Does Canada Fit? ATTEND and/or SPONSOR THE VIMY GALA 15% early bird discounts available The 30th Anniversary Vimy Gala will take place on: November 6, 2020 At the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Contact Jennifer Giguere to find out about booking your Vimy Gala table and/or sponsorship at our 15% early bird special (ends July 1st). Please note that individual seating registration will only open in the fall. Gold Sponsors and above will be invited to a "Chairman's Circle" VIP Cocktail with members of the selction committee and the 2020 award laureate. jennifer@cdainstitute.ca CDA INSTITUTE PARTNERS PREMIER PARTNER STRATEGIC PARTNERS OPERATIONAL PARTNER Conference of Defence Associations Institute | 75 Albert Street, Suite 900, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5E7 Canada
6 janvier 2020 | Local, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité
Article by Marcia Mills and Paul Burbank Capital Perspectives Last Updated: January 3 2020 The issues surrounding defence acquisition took a backseat in the run up to the 2019 federal election. As noted by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, this occurred despite the fact that two of the largest defence procurements in Canadian history – the Canadian Surface Combatants (warships) project and the Future Fighter Capability Program (fighter jets) – are in active procurement mode, spending is falling short of forecast and roughly 70 per cent of the approved projects under the 2017 implementation of the Strong, Secure, Engaged Defence Policy have seen schedule delays 1. Canadian defence procurement is a many-layered affair. Spread across three departments and a central agency (the Department of National Defence; Public Procurement and Services Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development; and Treasury Board, respectively), the need to coordinate and align this much bureaucracy is often viewed as one of the significant problems in defence procurement. The two main political parties offered very different solutions to these issues during the election, but provided few details. The Platforms The Conservatives focused on the need to "de-politicize" the procurement process, which would in turn deliver greater value for money and better resources for the Canadian military. To accomplish this, new oversight mechanisms, both in Cabinet and in the Privy Council Office, would be created. 2 Major defence procurements are already subject to oversight by the Defence Procurement Secretariat, a Deputy Ministers Governance Committee and a Ministers Working Group. It is not entirely clear how additional layers of oversight would reduce delay and improve efficiencies, unless the new mechanisms replaced all or some of the current oversight layers. The Liberal platform included a portion on defence procurement that pointed to the creation of "Defence Procurement Canada," to ensure defence projects were delivered on time and with greater transparency. The structure of Defence Procurement Canada was not explained. A bit of speculation is now in order as to what this could mean for defence procurement. The New Cabinet The Liberals formed a minority government and announced their new Cabinet on Nov. 20. While the Ministers of Defence (Harjit Sajjan) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development (Navdeep Bains) remain the same, Treasury Board has a new President and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has a new Minister – Jean-Yves Duclos and Anita Anand, respectively. Treasury Board President Duclos moves from a smaller, specific portfolio within Employment and Social Development Canada to now preside over one of the federal government's most powerful central agencies and cabinet committees. He will have a considerable role in ensuring effective financial management and government spending. Minister Anand is a new face in Cabinet and a first-time Member of Parliament for the riding of Oakville, Ont. She is assuming responsibility for, amongst other things, the two single largest purchasing organizations in the federal government (PSPC and Shared Services Canada (SSC)). Going Forward Defence procurement in Canada follows a general ebb and flow – resources are increased during times of conflict and are reduced in times of peace. Restructuring occurs in response to these influences, as well as perceived redundancies, desired efficiencies and the odd scandal or two. Various Minsters and departments have been responsible for defence procurement and production over the past 100 years, including boards or commissions set up during times of war. A new independent department for defence procurement would result in three different departments (SSC, PSPC and the Defence Procurement Canada) managing the vast majority of federal acquisition. This approach would be similar to the stand up of the Department of Defence Production in the '50s. The DDP had a short life. Established in 1951, it was expanded to become the central purchasing organization in 1963 as an interim measure, then disbanded in 1969 with the establishment of the Department of Supply and Services. The amalgamations of various entities continued until 1993, with the creation of the Department of Public Works and Government Services (a.k.a. PSPC). PSPC operates as a central purchasing agent for the government, with exclusive authority under the Defence Production Act to acquire defence supplies for DND. If Defence Procurement Canada is to exist as a departmental corporation or agency, the government would want to launch this new entity early in its mandate so that it can lay claim to any degree of efficiency or success achieved. If so, the new entity would likely remain within PSPC, as the Minister has existing statutory authority to create a supporting departmental corporation or agency under the Defence Production Act. Creating this entity outside of PSPC's current authority would require a significant reorganization of the public service and change to the operations of government of a magnitude greater than that required to establish Shared Services Canada – this would include deciding whether to maintain or decentralize the functions of defence procurement and defence production, as well as significant statutory amendments to provide or reduce, as required, the authority of all Ministers involved. Ministerial mandate letters, which were released in mid-December, shed no additional light on the specific operational structure or corporate identity that Defence Procurement Canada is expected to take. Notable in these letters, however, is a prevailing theme: Minister Anand has the clear responsibility for bringing forward options to Cabinet, but that effort will be supported by a host of respected, senior ministers, including Minister Sajjan (National Defence), Minister Jordan (Fisheries & Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard), and Minister Bains (Innovation, Science and Industry). As all of these Ministries are already involved in defence procurement, their continued support is not surprising. Throughout the history of defence acquisition and production in Canada, large-scale reorganization has been predicated by one of three events: war, post-war reconstruction or scandal. Absent one of these triggers, a minority government may have little appetite (or be able to drum up support from any other party) to stand up a wholly new department, or even a departmental corporation or agency within PSPC itself, on the basis of efficiency and economy alone, particularly in light of the on-going Phoenix debacle and the continued issues at Shared Services Canada. As no new Minister for Defence Procurement Canada was named in the new Cabinet nor were any Additional Ministers within PSPC named for defence or Defence Procurement Canada, it appears that, at least for now, any defence acquisition reorganization is likely to remain on the backburner. Marcia Mills is procurement counsel with the Fasken Ottawa office and has 20+ years of private and public sector experience. She provides clients with legal and strategic advice for all aspects of government procurement, as well as advice on government policies and procurement processes. Paul Burbank is an associate with the Fasken Ottawa office. He works with the Communications Law group to provide advice on telecommunications and broadcasting in Canada. Paul also works with Fasken's Government Relations and Political Law group on strategy and compliance matters. Footnotes 1 The Defence Procurement Outlook for Canada's 43rd Parliament by David Perry, The Global Exchange, 2019 Volume XVII, Issue III; Canadian Global Affairs Institute 2 Global News: With billions at risk, federal parties promise to fix defence, procurement