The RCAF laces up for the 2024 RCAF Run

Sur le même sujet

• 

  21 mars 2023 | Local, Autre défense

  La ministre Anand annonce un investissement de 1,4 milliard de dollars pour la modernisation des infrastructures du Centre d’entraînement de Dwyer Hill

  Le 21 mars 2023 – Ottawa (Ontario) – Défense nationale/Forces armées canadiennes Créée en 1993, la 2e Force opérationnelle interarmées (FOI 2) est une unité des forces d’opérations spéciales d’une disponibilité opérationnelle et d’une précision extrêmement élevées. La FOI 2, basée au Centre d’entraînement de Dwyer Hill dans la région de la capitale nationale, a pour mission de protéger les intérêts nationaux canadiens et de lutter contre le terrorisme et les menaces envers les Canadiens et les Canadiennes au pays et à l’étranger. L’honorable Anita Anand, ministre de la Défense nationale, a annoncé aujourd’hui un projet d’infrastructure de 1,4 milliard de dollars visant à moderniser les installations des Forces d’opérations spéciales au Centre d’entraînement de Dwyer Hill à Ottawa. Ce projet de construction d’une durée de dix ans prévoit un espace d’une superficie de plus de 100 000 m2 spécialement construit pour répondre aux besoins à long terme de la FOI 2 en matière d’opérations à haut niveau de préparation, d’instruction et de croissance. Les travaux comprennent notamment : ·        le remplacement de 89 structures vieillissantes et temporaires par 23 nouvelles  installations; ·        la rénovation de sept bâtiments; ·        l’amélioration des services publics du site. Environ 2 000 emplois seront créés tout au long de ce projet, et de 250 à 300 personnes travailleront sur le site pendant les périodes de pointe des travaux de construction. Les travaux devraient commencer en mai 2023. L’unité poursuivra ses activités de formation et ses opérations sur place pendant la durée de ces travaux. Ce projet comprendra plus de 150 contrats de sous‑traitance afin d’offrir aux entrepreneurs locaux et aux petits entrepreneurs davantage de possibilités de soumissionner pour des travaux. Cinq pour cent de la valeur de tous les contrats sont destinés à être attribués à des entreprises autochtones afin de créer des retombées économiques pour les peuples autochtones. Les nouvelles installations présenteront une consommation d’énergie nette zéro et seront construites de façon à respecter les normes de conception de la cote de niveau 2 du programme Green Globes en matière d’efficacité énergétique et environnementale. Ce projet nous aidera à réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre dans les bâtiments de la Défense et contribuera à l’objectif du gouvernement fédéral d’atteindre zéro émission nette d’ici 2050. Les bâtiments neufs ou rénovés comprendront des espaces de bureau modernes, des zones d’opérations et des ateliers techniques, ainsi qu’un nouveau champ de tir, des salles d’entraînement, des entrepôts, des installations médicales, des logements, un système de contrôle d’accès, une cuisine, un mess, et des espaces d’entreposage pour les munitions, l’équipement et les véhicules. Cet investissement témoigne de notre engagement à fournir aux membres des Forces armées canadiennes des infrastructures fonctionnelles, modernes et écologiques dans lesquelles ils peuvent travailler et s’entraîner. Comme l’indique la politique de défense du Canada Protection, Sécurité, Engagement, les investissements dans les infrastructures essentielles permettent d’accroître les capacités militaires tout en contribuant à réduire l’empreinte carbone du gouvernement. Citations « Les membres du personnel des forces spéciales risquent leur vie pour assurer la sécurité des Canadiens, et nous sommes déterminés à leur offrir les outils et la formation dont ils ont besoin pour rester prêts. Ce projet fera plus que doubler la superficie actuelle des espaces de travail et d’entraînement de l’unité grâce à des installations modernes et écologiques, et offrira des possibilités économiques considérables pour les entreprises et les travailleurs locaux dans la région de la capitale nationale. Que ce soit au pays ou à l’étranger, les membres de nos forces spéciales font d’énormes sacrifices pour défendre le Canada, et nous les remercions de leur service pour notre pays. » - L’honorable Anita Anand, ministre de la Défense nationale « Le Commandement des Forces d’opérations spéciales du Canada se réjouit de voir ce projet d’infrastructure aller de l’avant. Un centre d’entraînement moderne et amélioré spécialement aménagé permettra à nos militaires d’être prêts à soutenir les efforts du Canada visant à répondre à toute une gamme de menaces complexes, maintenant et dans le futur. »  - Le major‑général Steve Boivin, commandant du Commandement des Forces d’opérations spéciales du Canada  Faits en bref Le contrat de gestion des travaux de construction a été attribué à EllisDon Corporation, de Mississauga, en Ontario, qui lancera les appels d’offres pour tous les contrats de sous‑traitance et supervisera les travaux. La FOI 2 est une unité du Commandement des Forces d’opérations spéciales du Canada. Elle fournit des capacités de haut niveau qui protègent les Canadiens contre les menaces à la sécurité au pays et à l’étranger. Liens connexes Deuxième Force opérationnelle interarmées Commandement des Forces d’opérations spéciales du Canada https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/nouvelles/2023/03/la-ministre-anand-annonce-un-investissement-de-14-milliard-de-dollars-pour-la-modernisation-des-infrastructures-du-centre-dentrainement-de-dwyer-hill.html

• 

  21 février 2020 | Local, Terrestre

  New armoured vehicle fleet faces more problems – civilian vehicle hit near Petawawa

  DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN The Canadian military is investigating potential problems with brakes on its new armoured vehicle fleet which may have contributed to a number of incidents, including where one of the 18-tonne vehicles hit a car near Petawawa. There have been eight reported incidents involving problems with stopping or issues with brakes affecting the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles, or TAPVs. A formal safety advisory was issued Feb. 12 to the army units using the $600-million TAPV fleet. But the use of the vehicles is not being restricted at this time. The brake issues started being reported in January 2018 and the intermittent problem has only occurred at speeds in the range of five to 15 kilometres an hour, according to the Canadian Forces. “We are working with experts to try and determine if there is a problem with the vehicles braking performance at low-speed, and if the problem is isolated to a few vehicles or the result of something that may affect the wider fleet,” noted army spokesman Lt.-Col. Doug MacNair. So far, the Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence has been unable to replicate the reported problem, nor have inspections uncovered any obvious causes. There have been no injuries as a result of the incidents. Among the eight incidents is a Feb. 3 accident during which a TAPV rolled through a red light and hit a civilian vehicle near Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. No injuries were reported, and Ontario Provincial Police issued a ticket to the TAPV driver for failing to stop at a red light. Driver error was the “apparent problem” according to the Canadian Forces. But sources point out the driver in question reported problems with the TAPV brakes. During a change of command parade in Halifax in November 2019 a TAPV hit a wall causing minor damage after the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. A soldier near the vehicle had to “take evasive action to avoid being struck,” according to the Canadian Forces. In one case the brakes on a TAPV caught fire. In the aftermath of several other incidents involving brake failure large amounts of ice were found in the brake drums. In another case a TAPV hit the side of a bridge during training. “Following each of these incidents, technicians were unable to locate a problem with the brakes after they conducted technical inspections,” the Canadian Forces added. In 2016 the TAPV fleet had brake issues. At that time it was determined the anti-lock braking system on the vehicles was engaging erratically at higher speeds. A retrofit was introduced across the entire fleet to deal with that problem. The military says there is no evidence to suggest a connection between the 2016 braking issues and these latest incidents. Last year this newspaper reported on a series of rollovers and fires affecting the TAPV fleet. Between April 2014 and January 2019 there had been 10 incidents when Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles have tipped on to their sides, six where they have rolled over completely, and four where they have caught fire. Pat Finn, then the assistant deputy minister in charge of procurement at the Department of National Defence, said at the time there have been no serious injuries as a result of the incidents. Finn suggested the rollovers might be caused because of the high centre of gravity the vehicles have. Training was improved to deal with the issue of rollovers. No explanation was provided at the time for the cause behind the fires. The TAPVs have also faced other problems, according to DND documents obtained by this newspaper using the Access to Information law. The TAPV program has “experienced a number of significant technical issues, particularly affecting vehicle mobility,” then-Conservative defence minister Rob Nicholson was told in August 2014. There have been problems with the suspension, steering and other items on the vehicle, according to the briefing document for Nicholson. The technical issues significantly delayed the test program for the vehicles, the document added. The Conservative government announced the TAPV contract in 2012 as part of its re-equipping of the Canadian Army. Canada bought 500 TAPVs from Textron, a U.S. defence firm, at a cost of $603 million. The TAPV is a wheeled combat vehicle that will conduct reconnaissance and surveillance, security, command and control, and armoured transport of personnel and equipment. The TAPV project cost taxpayers a total of $1.2 billion, which not only includes the vehicles but also includes the building of infrastructure to house them, as well as the purchase of ammunition and service support for the equipment. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/new-armoured-vehicle-fleet-faces-more-problems-civilian-vehicle-hit-near-petawawa

• 

  17 décembre 2020 | Local, Naval

  'Too much noise' on Canadian warship program - DND Deputy Minister admonishes industry executives

  David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen Dec 14, 2020 • Last Updated 3 days ago • 6 minute read Defence industry executives have been told by a top bureaucrat to stop raising concerns about the controversial program to build a new fleet of warships that is now estimated to cost $70 billion and could go even higher. Company officials have been complaining to politicians and media outlets that the Canadian Surface Combatant project has fallen far short on its promises of creating domestic employment. Another company is in the middle of a lawsuit over the Canadian Surface Combatant or CSC, alleging the procurement was bungled. Federal lawyers are trying to limit the amount of information that can be disclosed in court about the project, with the next hearing to be held Jan. 13. Other industry executives have been warning politicians the rising price tag for CSC will jeopardize funding for other equally important military equipment projects. But Jody Thomas, deputy minister of the Department of National Defence, told executives Oct. 5 that they are hindering the project and she characterized their efforts as being those of sore losers. “I think there's still too much noise from unsuccessful bidders that makes my job and Bill's job very difficult,” she said, referring to Bill Matthews, deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada. The CSC project would see the construction of 15 warships for the Royal Canadian Navy at Irving Shipbuilding on the east coast. Construction of the vessels, to replace the current Halifax-class frigate fleet, isn't expected to start until 2023. But the project has already faced delays and significant increases in cost as the price tag has climbed from an original $14 billion estimate to around $70 billion. In an email to this newspaper about Thomas's statement to defence executives, the DND noted that industry officials have the right to raise their concerns with politicians or turn to the courts if needed. “However, the Department of National Defence, including the Deputy Minister, works for Canadians,” the DND stated. “While we maintain close, positive working relationships with industry, our primary responsibility is to the Canadian taxpayer.” But Thomas's admonishment didn't surprise industry representatives; although they won't go on record with their names for fear of jeopardizing future military contracts, a number of executives point out that for years federal officials have tried to keep a lid on questions and concerns as well as information about the CSC. A review of past actions by the current Liberal and previous Conservative governments and internal documents obtained by this newspaper through the Access to Information law appear to support that view. Federal officials have on two occasions tried to stymie attempts by the Parliamentary Budget Officer to obtain details and budget outlines of the CSC project, as well as with other vessel construction programs under the government's National Shipbuilding Strategy. In 2019, officials with Public Services and Procurement Canada issued a directive that firms interested in maintenance work on the Canadian Surface Combatant program could not talk to journalists and instead must refer all inquiries to the department. That was the fifth such gag order on military equipment projects issued by government over a year-long period. In one case, Procurement Canada threatened to punish any firms who violated the gag order on the proposed purchase of a light icebreaker. That prompted one unnamed company to submit a question to the department on whether a government ban on talking to journalists was even legal, according to records. Industry executives pointed out last year the secrecy was not based on security concerns, but on worries the news media would be able to use the information to keep close tabs on the problem-plagued military procurement system. After this newspaper reported on the gag orders, Procurement Canada claimed last year it would no longer use such bans. Michael Byers, a professor at the University of British Columbia who has produced two studies on the troubled federal shipbuilding program, said government officials have repeatedly tried to limit the amount of information available on the CSC and other shipbuilding projects. “These projects are in serious trouble and when you have those problems, combined with politics, the pressure to keep things secret are very very high,” he explained. Federal officials appear to be concerned specifically about journalists who might be reporting on two particular ship projects; the CSC and the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships or AOPS. Both projects involve Irving Shipbuilding. Documents show Irving representatives and bureaucrats from Procurement Canada (then called Public Works) warned DND procurement official Ian Mack in April 2013 that CBC journalist Terry Milewski was working on a story about the high costs of the AOPS and the fact that other nations paid a fraction of what Canadian taxpayers were being charged for similar vessels. Six days after Mack sent his warning out to other bureaucrats, Milewski produced his report. In 2016, Public Works officials alerted Minister Judy Foote's office this newspaper was asking questions about the CSC. Foote's office, in turn, warned Irving representatives. In March 2019, the DND and Public Services and Procurement Canada warned Irving Shipbuilding this newspaper was asking questions about problems with welds on the AOPS. Documents show that after a series of questions were submitted by this newspaper to the DND, PSPC deputy minister Bill Matthews, DND deputy minister Thomas and Pat Finn, then DND's top procurement official, held a conference call with Irving President Kevin McCoy. McCoy briefed “Jody, Bill, Pat” about the company's plans to sue this newspaper if it “published anything that impugned our professional reputation.” There is no indication in the document that the bureaucrats raised any objections to the company's strategy. Thomas took no notes during the conference call, according to the department's Access to Information branch. Matthews responded to Irving's decision with a supportive email. “Welcome to my world,” Matthews wrote to McCoy. Matthews has declined requests to be interviewed by this newspaper. In an email, the department stated the deputy minister's comment was referring to the fact defence procurement “is a highly complex environment, in which we often face criticism about our processes and decisions.” DND confirmed to this newspaper that there had been minor issues with welding on the AOPS and the article was published. In May 2019, the Globe and Mail also reported federal officials alerted Irving the newspaper was seeking information from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development about whether the French fry plant investment qualified as an industrial benefit for the Arctic ship project. After the Globe sent two emails to the department's media relations branch, the newspaper received a letter from a lawyer working for Irving. The letter threatened legal action if the article contained any allegations of improper conduct. Innovation, Science and Economic Development spokesman Hans Parmar stated in an email that Irving was told of the media inquiry as part of the department's policy to ‘'encourage transparency.'' At the time, Irving spokesman Sean Lewis said while the firm respects the work of journalists, in the case of the Globe and this newspaper the company threatened legal action because the news organizations “had highly inaccurate information that would cause our company, and the reputation of our hardworking employees, considerable reputational damage.” In the case of the Globe, Irving confirmed it had received the approximately $40 million industrial benefit credit for the French fry plant. The incident with the Globe and Mail also revealed bureaucrats at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada had a system to alert Irving each time a journalist asked questions about AOPS. The department claimed it was required to do so according to its contract with Irving. However, that contract contains only a general reference to coordinating public communications. It is unclear whether the department has established a similar system for the CSC project. The department did not answer questions about how many times it has shared information about journalists with Irving officials. Asked about how many times Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada has alerted Irving about journalists asking questions about shipbuilding matters, company spokesman Thomas Ormsby responded: “We do not discuss customer contracts.” https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/too-much-noise-on-canadian-warship-program-dnd-deputy-minister-admonishes-industry-executives