18 décembre 2018 | Local, Terrestre
If the contract to supply Saudi Arabia with London-built military vehicles were cancelled, the impact would also be deeply felt in the hundreds of suppliers that feed General Dynamics and its Oxford Street East factory.
Armatec Survivabilty in Dorchester supplies most of the seats to the General Dynamics Land Systems Canada armoured vehicles going to the Middle East, and a “substantial number” of its workers would lose their jobs if it's cancelled, said Rod Flick, manager of business development at Armatec.
“We're putting seats in those vehicles. It would have a big impact,” said Flick, adding it now employs just over 100.
GDLS has said its suppliers nationwide — including 240 in the London region alone — employ 13,500 people directly or indirectly.
“There are other ways Canada can exert pressure than to cancel this. The Saudis will just go and buy vehicles from somewhere else,” Flick said.
Flick will be in Ottawa this week pressing Global Affairs Canada not to cancel the deal, he added.
Flick has also met with several MPs and MPPs, making the case to defend the agreement.
At Abuma Manufacturing on Admiral Drive in London, about half its business is tied to General Dynamics and cancelling the contract would be “a real blow” to its 26 employees, said president Ben Whitney, who is also head of its sister plant, Armo-Tool. Abuma makes parts for GDLS's light armoured vehicles.
“I am extremely concerned., It would make things very difficult for us. It would put us in a difficult position,” said Whitney.
“It would be a blow, a real blow.”
Armo-Tool bought Abuma in May and would keep it afloat by sharing work, but without that partnership, Abuma would shut down if the Saudi deal is cancelled, he added.
“When this deal was struck, it was because the Saudis were seen as a stable partner in that region. If we want to engage in that region, there is no perfect democracy there. We can engage and build relationships or we can cancel deals and be seen as not reliable,” said Whitney.
“It is tough. Last week, we made a donation to the Salvation Army and now about half our people may need them. It is a tough situation.”
February 2014:
The federal government under the Stephen Harper-led Conservatives announce the deal to supply light armoured military vehicles to Saudi Arabia, with London defence giant General Dynamics Land Systems Canada building the vehicles for a federal crown corporation, the Canadian Commercial Corp., selling the equipment to the desert kingdom.
October 2015:
The Conservatives, under fire from human rights critics for selling arms to Saudi Arabia despite its human rights abuses, lose the general election to Justin Trudeau's Liberals.
The Liberals green-light the deal, despite growing calls to rescind it in light of Saudi Arabian political and human rights abuses, including in neighbouring Yemen.
2016:
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion quietly approves export permits covering most of the deal, as criticism mounts of Canada doing arms business with Saudi Arabia.
October 2018:
Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist, is killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkey. Suspicion instantly rises that the killing was ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The killing increases heat on Ottawa over its Saudi arms deal.
After first denying Khashoggi was killed, Saudi Arabia admits his slaying was “premeditated” and orders an investigation.
Trudeau, facing new pressure to scuttle the Saudi deal in light of Khashoggi's murder, says it would cost $1 billion to scrap the deal. The Liberals say they're reviewing the export permits for the deal.
December 2018:
Trudeau says publicly for the first time that the Liberals are looking for a way out of the Saudi deal, prompting heightened worry and alarm in London.
1,850: Employees in London
13,500: Jobs supported among its suppliers
500: Suppliers nationwide
240: Suppliers in London region
19 janvier 2023 | Local, Autre défense
Defence firms and other companies were given almost $10 million to develop new ways to analyze social media and sift through accounts.
24 août 2020 | Local, Aérospatial
By Wings Staff SkyAlyne Canada LP, a partnership between CAE and KF Aerospace, introduced an expanded team of subcontractors to pursue the Royal Canadian Air Force's contract for the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program, the military pilot and aircrew training program under the Government of Canada's ongoing, generational Strong, Secure Engaged investment plan. SkyAlyne is one of four qualified suppliers bidding for the FAcT contract, along with Babcock Canada Inc., Leonardo Canada, and Lockheed Martin Canada Inc. With a contract award date expected to come in 2023, FAcT combines all Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot training with aircrew support training. Canadian-based companies ATCO Frontec, Bluedrop Training and Simulation, Canadian Base Operators, Canadian Helicopters, SERCO Canada and PAL Aerospace are joining SkyAlyne's FAcT bid. SkyAlyne describes PAL Aerospace as a notable new addition to the team given its experience in airborne surveillance and intelligence operations, sensor operator training, mission systems development and aircraft modification capabilities. The newly expanded SkyAlyne team collectively employs more than 14,000 Canadians and operates in every region of Canada. “Our goal is to work with the Royal Canadian Air Force to continue providing a world-class aircrew training program built by Canadians for Canadians,” said Tracy Medve, board chair of SkyAlyne. “These partnerships will strengthen SkyAlyne's position and help us move towards our objective to retain this crucial military capability in Canada.” SkyAlyne states it is the only Canadian-founded and Canadian-based qualified supplier competing for the FAcT program. Its parent companies, CAE and KF Aerospace, currently deliver all phases of pilot training for the RCAF through the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program based in Moose Jaw, SK, and Cold Lake, AB, as well as the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) program based in Southport, MB. The new subcontractors added to the SkyAlyne team also hold extensive experience working with the RCAF, with most also currently supporting the NFTC and CFTS programs. “This agreement further ensures that the FAcT program benefits from the very latest Canadian expertise and innovation in aircrew training,” says France Hébert, president, SkyAlyne. “If selected, SkyAlyne will train the next generation of Royal Canadian Air Force airwomen and airmen while helping grow Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as local and Indigenous communities. The selection of the SkyAlyne team would be a win-win for the Royal Canadian Air Force and for the Canadian aerospace industry.” https://www.wingsmagazine.com/skyalyne-expands-team-for-future-aircrew-training-bid/
28 novembre 2018 | Local, Naval
DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The Victoria-class submarines were expected to reach the end of their operational lives starting in 2022, according to documents obtained under the Access to Information law. That could have been a major problem for the federal government as it is looking at planning a modernization program for the on-board systems on the class, starting in 2023 or 2024. If the subs were to reach the end of their operational lives starting a year earlier, how would that have worked? Defence Watch asked that question and has been informed that things have now changed. Department of National Defence spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier said that the Victoria-class start to reach the end of their operational life in the mid-2020s. That later date was determined after DND officials did a more extensive examination of the submarine fleet life. But there are still no details on what needs to be done to extend the life of the subs, how much that will cost, or when that will be done. “The Victoria-class Modernization (VCM) Program is currently in the Options Analysis stage, where the preferred modernization option is being selected,” Le Bouthillier noted. “Details of specific capabilities and milestones will be determined as the program evolves.” Last year Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan praised the capability submarines provide Canada. “No other platform in the Canadian Armed Forces can do what a submarine can do,” Sajjan said. “No other platform has the stealth, the intelligence-gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance capability and the deterrence to potential adversaries that a sub does.” But the Liberals have rejected a Commons defence committee recommendation that the Victoria-class subs, bought used in 1998 from the United Kingdom, be replaced with submarines capable of under-ice capabilities. “The government has also committed to modernizing the four Victoria-class submarines to include weapons and sensor upgrades that will enhance the ability of the submarines to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and deliver necessary improvements of platform and combat systems to extend operational capability to the mid-2030's,” the government response to the committee noted. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-forces-says-submarines-can-operate-until-mid-2020s-it-is-still-determining-how-to-upgrade