RCAF may not need seven of the 25 used Australian F-18s, says defence procurement chief

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  8 mai 2019 | Local, Aérospatial

  US, Canada talks underway to decide if the F-35 will be pulled from Canada’s fighter competition

  By: David Pugliese VICTORIA, British Columbia — The U.S. is threatening to pull the F-35 from Canada's fighter jet competitionif the ally to the north doesn't change requirements for the winning bidder to stipulate specific industrial benefits for domestic firms. The U.S. government is arguing that since Canada is a partner in the F-35 program it cannot request guaranteed industrial benefits for its companies. Canada has pre-qualified four aircraft for its fighter jet project worth up to 19 billion Canadian dollars (U.S. $14 billion): the Lockheed Martin F-35, Boeing Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Saab Gripen. The Canadian government plans to purchase 88 new jets to replace its aging CF-18 fighter aircraft fleet. Canada will require that a robust package of guaranteed industrial benefits or offsets be provided by the winning bidder, government officials have said. But the U.S. government has objected to that, as Canada is still a partner in the F-35 program, which does not guarantee participating nations a set number of contracts. Work on the F-35 program is based on best value and price. U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Mathias Winter, program executive officer for the Joint Strike Fighter, wrote Canadian procurement officials Dec. 18, 2018, pointing out that the F-35 agreement prohibits partners from imposing requirements for industrial benefits. “We cannot participate in an offer of the F-35 weapon system where requirements do not align with the F-35 Partnership," he noted in his letter. Winter's letter was leaked this week to defencs analysts and the Canadian journalists. The letter has prompted ongoing discussions between Canadian and U.S. procurement officials in an effort to work out some kind of solution, multiple industry and government sources told Defense News. But the Canadian government will also respect any decision by the U.S. to not bid the F-35 if an agreement can't be reached, sources added. The Canadian government is putting the final touches on the bid requirements for new fighter jet project. That bid package is expected to be issued sometime this year. Asked about the U.S. ultimatum, Ashley Michnowski, spokeswoman for Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough, said feedback from aircraft suppliers is continuing to be collected by the Canadian government. That process has yet to be finished and a final request for bids is expected to be released soon, she added. Michnowski said Canada continues to be a member of the Joint Strike Fighter program, giving the country “the option to buy aircraft through the program, should the F-35 be successful in the competitive process for the future fleet.” Lockheed Martin Canada noted in a statement that Canadian firms have earned more than $1.2 billion in work on the program, resulting in hundreds of domestic jobs. “We continue to provide our feedback to the U.S. government, which leads all government-to-government discussions related to the Canadian fighter replacement competition,” the statement added. Email: dpugliese@defensenews.com https://www.defensenews.com/air/2019/05/08/us-canada-talks-underway-to-decide-if-the-f-35-will-be-pulled-from-canadas-fighter-competition/

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  14 avril 2020 | Local, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

  Vimy Award Call for Nominations

  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

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  6 avril 2020 | Local, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité

  Idled industrial plants seen as an untapped source of protective equipment for health workers

  Families of health workers in Quebec driving grassroots campaign to get pandemic equipment to hospitals Murray Brewster Guillaume Tardif, a soon-to-be-retired army tank officer, quietly but frantically combed the internet in January as coronavirus reports coming out of Wuhan, China became more alarming. Even then, he was convinced a viral storm was approaching and was determined to do everything possible to protect his wife, a Montreal emergency room physician — up to and including the purchase of reusable face masks. Tardif, a captain who served in Afghanistan, has been at the forefront of an unusual grassroots campaign in Quebec — driven by the families of frightened health care workers — to mobilize the provincial and federal governments to requisition industrially-certified respirators from idled industries and suppliers. He spent over $800 out of his own pocket to equip his wife with personal protective equipment (PPE) for the daily battle against coronavirus. "She's the love of my life," Tardif said in an interview. "She's the mother of my children and I'm going to make sure that I do everything possible for her to come home every night and us to get through this." (Staff at the hospital where his spouse works have been warned not to talk to the media and CBC News has agreed not to publish Tardif's wife name, or the name of the facility where she works.) Tapping into industrial supplies Other families in the medical community have followed Tardif's lead by buying up large stocks of industrial masks and respirators locally, and donating them. Earlier this week, the federal government announced an ambitious $2 billion plan to swiftly increase the stock of personal protective equipment for frontline health-care workers caring for critically-ill and dying patients. Quebec Premier François Legault said Tuesday the province has three to four days before it runs out of some personal protective equipment (PPE), but that the province has orders that are expected to arrive in the coming days. The province went through a year's worth of PPE in a matter of weeks because of the surge in COVID-19 cases. The question of whether the federal stockpile of equipment is adequate has been on federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu's mind. "No we likely do not have enough," she told the daily media briefing Wednesday. "I think federal governments for decades have been underfunding things like public health preparedness and I would say that obviously governments all across the world are in the same exact situation." In all likelihood, it will be weeks before suppliers, old and new, can ramp up production of vital equipment such as medically-certified N95 masks, which many doctors and nurses throughout the country are being forced to ration and reuse. Tardif argues there is a large alternative supply of identical industrial-grade masks and respirators that can be requisitioned by the federal government and the provinces in the meantime. "We need to take every chance to avoid running out of PPE and in my opinion that involves requisitioning every device that's out there," he said. It's a good idea, says doctor Dr. Andrew Willmore, medical director of emergency management at the Ottawa Hospital, said having the provinces or the federal government coordinate the collection of industrial protective equipment is a very good idea. "I think it's absolutely useful," Willmore said. "I think it's a very important role, both federal and provincial, to be able to enact the appropriate legislative measures by which they can really dig down into industry and create a pool of resources that can be distributed equitably in a way that supports the health care system as a whole." Both 3M, the manufacturer of the N95, and Health Canada have said industrial masks — the kind used in construction, factories and paint shops, where fumes are a problem — are a suitable emergency substitute. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that major shipments of protective equipment, including millions of masks, have started to arrive — one shipment landed on Wednesday — and federal officials are in the process of conducting inventory and getting the equipment out to the provinces. "We will be there to support the provinces and territories with whatever they need," he said during his daily media briefing. "This includes sending personal protective equipment and other supports for the health care system." The shortage of protective equipment for hospital staff was to be the subject of a teleconference between Trudeau and the premiers Thursday night. Willmore said the Ottawa Hospital has reached out to some local businesses in the hopes of laying its hands on an industrial supply. In other parts of the country, major industrial concerns have stepped forward. Honda Canada donated 1,200 masks to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ont., and a further 1,000 and 40,000 pairs of gloves to the Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston, Ont. 'A single point of failure' Tardif said his research suggests that's a fraction of the industrial stock across the country and it's the federal government's responsibility to step in and coordinate a nationwide drive. Shortages of protective equipment for health care staff in a pandemic create "a single point of failure" for the whole system because it either puts doctors, nurses and technicians in danger or leaves them unable to provide care, Willmore said, adding that "the highest levels of government" need to engage with the problem. It has been suggested that giving health care staff reusable respirators, such as the 3M-manufactured 6000, would help cut down on the use of disposable masks. Willmore said that depends on the environment and the patient being treated, noting that there's a danger involved in overusing some equipment. Cost and availability are other factors. "These are expensive pieces of equipment and they're difficult to source, especially since there's been a pull to purchase such equipment," he said. "It's certainly effective but there are practical limitations." https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-coronavirus-pandemic-masks-respirators-1.5518401