Re: Minister of National Defence

by **Rockarm** Mon 06 Dec 2021, 8:19 am

Canadian defense minister: We will always ensure our military is ready, willing and able

By Anita Anand Dec 06, 2021

Around the globe, including in Canada, citizens and governments are being reminded of the value of a modern, capable and professional military. The events of the past few years have highlighted just how important our armed forces are. As Canada’s new minister of national defense, I will continue working diligently to ensure our nation’s military remains a strong force that is ready, willing and able to meet any challenge at home or abroad.

Here in Canada, the past two years have brought new and increased demands on our country’s military, the Canadian Armed Forces. Through Operation Vector, our armed forces helped distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccines across the country.

In total, the Canadian Armed Forces assisted over 100 Indigenous communities with COVID-19 mitigation efforts, including by rolling out vaccines to 40 remote and northern Canadian communities. Under Operation Laser, the Canadian Armed Forces provided life-saving assistance in 54 long-term care facilities in Quebec and Ontario. Through Operation Globe, the CAF transported humanitarian and medical supplies to our international partners on behalf of the United Nations World Food Programme and the World Health Organization — fulfilling Canada’s commitment to lend a hand to those in need.

COVID-19 is not the only crisis facing Canada. Our government believes climate change and extreme weather conditions present a considerable threat to our national security. More and more, our military is being called upon to provide critical support to communities during natural disasters like floods, ice storms and forest fires. Since January 2020, our armed forces have responded to 11 requests for assistance during emergencies in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon.

Canada takes the threat of climate change seriously, which is why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced Canada’s proposal to host a new NATO Centre of Excellence on Climate and Security. This would provide NATO allies with a central location to pool knowledge, develop responses and prepare for the threat of climate change.

The circumstances faced by Canada and our allies around the globe are no less challenging. In this environment, the Canadian Armed Forces are playing a vital role in defending freedom, security and the rules-based international order around the world.

Through Operation Reassurance, the CAF is supporting NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe, leading the multinational enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup in Latvia. The CAF is also a major contributor to and is currently commanding the Standing NATO Maritime Group One and is participating in NATO’s enhanced air-policing mission in Romania. In a non-NATO context, our members have been supporting security and stability in Europe since 2015 under Operation Unifier in Ukraine.

On Operation Impact, the CAF are training and building capacity in the Middle East, including by supporting NATO Mission Iraq. Our armed forces are also promoting peace and stability in Northeast Asia, working with our allies to monitor North Korea’s sanctions evasion activities at sea under Operation Neon, and working with the United Nations Command on the Korean Peninsula. And through Operation Projection, Canadian warships work alongside our allies and partners to uphold the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.

At a time when our military is being called upon to serve in new, challenging ways, I and our entire government are committed to ensuring our forces have the equipment, training and support they need. Our government’s fully costed and fully funded defense policy, “Strong, Secure, Engaged,” increases Canada’s defense investments by 70% — ensuring we have a modern, state-of-the-art force now and in the years to come. This commitment includes investments in North American continental security.

Our government’s most recent budget lays the groundwork for modernization of North American Aerospace Defense Command by making new investments in situational awareness, modernized command-and-control systems, research and development, and capabilities to deter and defeat evolving aerospace threats.

In our work to build a more secure North America and reinforce the rules-based international order around the globe, Canada remains a strong partner to our most important ally — our American neighbors and friends.

As a minister and a citizen, I am deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication that our people in uniform demonstrate every day in service to Canada. We will continue to put them first by ensuring they feel safe, protected and respected. Building an inclusive military culture is a top priority for me, and we have already announced transformative steps, including the transfer of sexual misconduct investigations and prosecutions to the civilian justice system.

Given the wide range of challenges we face at home and abroad, our government will continue to ensure our armed forces are ready, willing and able to support Canadians and our international allies and partners, wherever and whenever they are called upon to serve.

Anita Anand is Canada’s defense minister.

Defense News

by Covert Fri 10 Dec 2021, 6:49 am

Newly appointed federal defence minister visits troops at CFB Edmonton

By Kim Smith . Global News
Posted December 9, 2021

Global News

by Ranger Mon 13 Dec 2021, 9:20 pm

12.13.2021

by **Hammercore** Mon 14 Mar 2022, 6:10 am

Anand says Canada on track to hit defence spending targets but asks, ‘is that enough?’

By Amanda Connolly . Global News
Posted March 13, 2022

Defence Minister Anita Anand says Canada needs to be asking whether the country can do more when it comes to defence spending and contributing to key alliances like NATO and NORAD in the midst of the threat posed by Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine.

In an interview with The West Block‘s Mercedes Stephenson from Latvia during the minister’s visit last week, Anand said the current threat environment has raised more questions about how best to prepare.

“We know from our defence policy that we will be increasing defence spending by 70 per cent over the nine-year period beginning in 2017,” she said.

“But in the context of the current threat environment, we must ask ourselves, is that enough? Should we be doing more?”

The 2017 defence policy reset known as Strong, Secure, Engaged laid out a roadmap for boosting military spending by 70 per cent over the course of the coming decade. That is projected to see spending rise from $18.9 billion in 2016/17 to $32.7 billion by 2026/27.

Anand said on Friday during a speech to defence industry leaders that Canada is “still on track” to hit those targets, and billed the current moment as a “crucial” one for Canada and allies.

Russia invaded Ukraine, a sovereign democracy, on Feb. 24 in what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland have repeatedly described as an existential threat to the rules-based international order in place since the end of the Second World War.

In the weeks since, Russian troops have besieged Ukrainian towns and cities, unleashing shelling and violence that last week saw a maternity hospital attacked in the port city of Mariupol.

Scores are dead.

Canada alongside NATO and Western allies has imposed multiple rounds of sanctions against Russia.

Those sanctions target Russian oligarchs, as well as Putin’s own personal wealth, along with Russian companies including those in the oil and gas sector, and banks. Included on the sanctions list is the Russian central bank, which Freeland often refers to as Putin’s “war chest.”

The Russian ruble has collapsed, and Russia is now frozen out of the SWIFT global financial transactions system. It remains unclear, though, whether the measures will be enough to stop Putin’s invasion.

Putin had demanded that NATO countries vow not to allow Ukraine to join the military alliance, which has as one of its core principles that of collective defence for members.

Anand was asked whether the current threats drive home a need to speed up Canadian military procurements, some of which have gone on for years with little apparent progress.

“There certainly is a need to move as quickly as possible with our future fighter procurements and from a DND [Department of National Defence] perspective, that is exactly what I am seeking to achieve,” Anand said.
She would not say whether she believes the government should have moved faster in the past.

“I look ahead,” Anand said in response to a question about whether the government has been “blasé” about defence procurements.

“I’ve been the minister for three months and I need to keep working hard for the Canadian Armed Forces. They are my priority and I will do my very best.”

Anand became minister of national defence in October 2021.

Her predecessor, Harjit Sajjan, was shuffled to another portfolio following the federal election, which took place amid ongoing reporting by Global News into the military sexual misconduct crisis.

Global News

by Covert Mon 25 Apr 2022, 8:23 am

Canada plans new $1-billion radar to protect North American cities

The radar system would be built in southern Canada, according to the briefing. But the system would keep watch on Arctic airspace to detect threats against major U.S. or Canadian cities.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Apr 25, 2022

The Canadian government will spend $1 billion for a new radar system to protect major population centres in North America, this newspaper has confirmed.

Defence industry officials were briefed about the project April 7 in Ottawa by Royal Canadian Air Force officers.

The radar system would be built in southern Canada, according to the briefing. But the system would keep watch on Arctic airspace to detect threats against major U.S. or Canadian cities.

The Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar would “provide long-range surveillance of northern approaches to the major population centers in North America by establishing a northward-aimed high frequency over-the-horizon radar system in southern Canada,” according to the briefing provided to this newspaper.

The radar would start operating in 2028. The preliminary cost estimate for the system is $1 billion, but military officials say that could go higher.

Defence Minister Anita Anand has been promising to announce a series of new projects to improve continental security in conjunction with the U.S. That includes modernizing the joint U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) as well as the North Warning System radars in the Arctic.

“In the coming months, we will be bringing forward a robust package of investments to bolster our continental defence in close co-operation with the United States,” Anand said April 5 in a presentation to the Senate defence committee. Although she didn’t provide any specifics about those investments, some estimates have put the cost at as much as $20 billion.

The most immediate problem for both the U.S. and Canada is determining what to do about the North Warning System, which is estimated to be obsolete starting around 2025. The North Warning System radar sites were constructed between 1986 and 1992. The radars were mainly designed to track Russian bombers approaching North America.

Canada has come under pressure from the U.S. government to move forward on improvements to continental defence. But there have been questions inside the Department of National Defence (DND) about whether there would be enough funding for such a venture and whether the public would support such a large expense.

But the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February has provided Liberal government officials with the reasons to move forward on both the purchase of the F-35 stealth fighter as well as NORAD modernization. Anand has noted the invasion in both her statements about the new fighter jet and NORAD improvements. “The current defence and security climate also has underscored that we need to do more to bolster our defences in Canada and North America at large,” Anand added in her presentation to the Senate.

When asked April 5 about the threat of a Russian attack, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau specifically referred to NORAD modernization, adding, “The Arctic is an area we’re going to look closely” in terms of defence spending.

In addition, defence analysts with ties to DND have raised warnings about the potential for the Russians to attack Canada’s Arctic or challenge its sovereignty in the North. That includes the suggestion the Russians might launch a missile attack on the Arctic to send a warning to Canada and the U.S.

DND insiders privately admit such a scenario is highly unlikely; for instance if Russia fired a missile at the Arctic, the U.S. would probably respond to that with their own nuclear-tipped missiles, setting off World War Three. But the insiders noted that such discussions are effective in convincing the Canadian public of the need to spend billions of dollars more on continental defence.

Research has been underway into new technologies to improve continental defences. In 2019, DND, through Public Services and Procurement Canada, awarded a contract to Raytheon Canada Limited for $31 million. That was for building equipment to study over-the-horizon radar detection at long range. The primary objective of that project was to demonstrate the feasibility of radar technology for the detection of air targets beyond the horizon. That would involve reflecting signals off of the ionosphere and back to a receiving station, according to the Department of National Defence. Once operational, the system could be used in conjunction with other systems to further understand the effect of the Aurora Borealis on target detection beyond the horizon.

Defence Watch

by **Stargunner** Tue 24 May 2022, 7:40 pm

More government action needed for military members struggling to find housing, Anand says

Posted May 24 2022

Defence Minister Anita Anand said Tuesday the federal government has more to do in order to support Canadian Forces members who are having difficulty to find housing.

However, she also outlined steps already taken, such as giving members more flexibility in their work, including remote work options.

She says the government increased the rates of pay for military members in 2021.

She also says Canadians across the country are facing housing shortages.

A recent email encouraging Canadian Armed Forces members to consider Habitat for Humanity is shedding light on how rising home and rental prices are affecting military personnel.

Global News

by **Spider** Sat 28 May 2022, 9:45 am

Defence Minister Anand amends duty to report
regulations to provide an exception for Restorative
Engagement program participants

From: National Defence

May 26, 2022

News release

by **Colter** Mon 20 Jun 2022, 3:59 pm

Canada spending almost $5B to upgrade continental defence, Anand says

Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Jun 20, 2022

Minister of National Defence - Page 8 Norad-operation-noble-defender-2022

CBC News

by Stealth Tue 13 Dec 2022, 11:26 am

Anand pledges ‘ambitious’ military culture reform in report to Parliament

By Saba Aziz . Global News
Posted December 13, 2022

Global News

by **Falcon** Wed 14 Dec 2022, 4:26 pm

Defence Minister Anand considering multi-billion dollar purchase of U.S. built surveillance aircraft

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen

Published Dec 14, 2022

Defence Minister Anita Anand is considering whether to push forward a multi-billion-dollar proposal to purchase new surveillance aircraft for the Canadian Forces.

The proposal to buy between eight and 12 P-8 Poseidon aircraft from Boeing in the U.S. is being examined, according to industry and defence sources. But whether it moves forward to cabinet still has to be decided.

Considerations include whether the aircraft are affordable and whether the deal could be sold to the public at a time when there is growing pressure for the federal government to rein in its spending as well as focus on other priority areas like health care.

Boeing announced earlier this year it would take part in any competition to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CP-140 Aurora aircraft. That program, dubbed the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft Project, is expected to cost more than $5 billion.

The program was not expected to start in earnest until 2024 with bids being accepted in 2027. The first planes would be delivered in 2032.

But Boeing has warned the Canadian government that its P-8 Poseidon production line in the U.S. could be shut down by 2025, if additional orders aren’t placed.

Anand’s office did not respond to questions about the P-8 proposal and referred those to National Defence.

National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said the CP-140 Aurora is currently scheduled to retire from service in 2030. “We continue to examine all options that are available to us for the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft Project,” he said.

Boeing spokesperson Marcia Costley said the range, speed and endurance of the P-8 makes it the ideal aircraft to monitor Canada’s northern and maritime approaches. In addition, the P-8 would ensure allied interoperability to meet Canada’s security commitments as well as contribute to the country’s economic growth she added.

Costley noted it is up to the Canadian government to answer questions about any acquisition timeline for the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project.

In June Boeing announced it had teamed with Canadian firms such as CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defence, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada, and Raytheon Canada for any future bid on the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project.

The P-8 Poseidon is in service with the US Navy, Indian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Republic of Korea Navy and the Germany Navy.

Canada has already put out a request for information to aviation firms for the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project. As part of its pitch to Canada, Boeing has pointed out that the aircraft can operate on a 50 per cent blend of sustainable aviation fuel.

The Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft would be used for anti-submarine warfare as well as surveillance and reconnaissance.

In 2016 Boeing tried to pitch Canada on a smaller surveillance aircraft based on a Canadian-built Bombardier Challenger aircraft.

In July Boeing officials told Flight Global magazine that the P-8 production line had orders until 2025 but the firm identified Canada as its next potential customer. In addition, the aviation news outlet was told that Boeing was optimistic about the prospect of expanding foreign sales of the P-8, with additional interest generated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Defence Watch

by **Falcon** Thu 26 Jan 2023, 4:25 pm

Canada sending 4 tanks to Ukraine and deploying soldiers to train, defence minister says

Rachel Aiello . Published Jan. 26, 2023

CTV News

by Spartan Sun 26 Feb 2023, 3:36 pm

Canadian military will get new tanks to replace Leopards going to Ukraine: minister

By Rachel Gilmore . Global News
Posted February 26, 2023

Canada will be purchasing additional tanks to replace the ones being sent to Ukraine, Defence Minister Anita Anand said.

Her comment comes on the heels of an announcement Friday that Canada will be sending an additional four Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, bringing the total number of tanks being sent by the government to the embattled country to eight.

However, Canada’s contributions to Ukraine’s war effort have come amid concerns about the Canadian Armed Forces’ capacities here at home.

“I am always concerned to make sure that the Canadian Armed Forces have what they need to serve and protect this incredible country,” Anand said, speaking to The West Block host Mercedes Stephenson in an interview, aired Sunday.

“What that means is we are going to be purchasing additional tanks for the Canadian Armed Forces.”

These tanks, she added, might not be exactly the same as the eight Leopard 2 battle tanks Canada gave to Ukraine.

The Canadian military, Anand said, wants to ensure it has “the most innovative and modern solutions.”

“So it’s not necessarily the case that the Leopard 2A4 is going to be the replacement vehicle,” she said.

“We have to make sure that we are recapitalizing with the most up-to-date technology that is interoperable with our allies, as we have done in the past, as we are doing with the F-35.”

As Canada works to rebuild its supplies, Anand said she’s pushing to ensure our “priority placement” in the supply chain while “doing whatever is necessary from a domestic innovation perspective.”

“So we’re working very quickly in terms of the Canadian supply chain, in terms of international procurement, as well as capitalizing Ukraine with the equipment that it needs to fight and win this war,” she said.

The promise to purchase more tanks comes as Canada faces serious challenges with recruitment and retention of personnel in the Canadian Armed Forces.

While it is supposed to be adding about 5,000 troops to regular and reserve forces to meet a growing list of demands, the military is instead short more than 10,000 trained members – meaning about one in 10 positions are currently vacant.

In addition to a lack of recruits, the Canadian military continues to face longstanding challenges in procuring new equipment, maintaining ageing gear, and tracking down replacement parts.

The ongoing challenges within the Canadian military have left the top soldier in the country concerned.

In an interview with Stephenson aired in late January, Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre warned that Canada’s military would be “hard pressed” to do anything more than simply meet its NATO pledges as it grapples with these issues.

“We’re not the only ones facing the people crunch. I’ve had good chats with Australia, New Zealand, NATO counterparts — this is a phenomenon across the West – tight labour force, not as much interest in military service,” Eyre said.

“That worries me from a collective ability to defend democracy at large,” Eyre said. “We’ve got to do our part with getting our numbers back up … I am concerned, but I’m concerned for the wider West as well.”

While military officials aren’t placing blame on any single issue with respect to the recruitment and retention problems, the Canadian Forces have been shaken in recent years by a sexual misconduct crisis that touched even the highest ranks, along with wider attention on systemic racism.

The reputational problem has been compounded by concerns about the presence of right-wing extremists and racism in the ranks, which a review said last year were factors “repulsing” new recruits.

Anand announced last year that fixing the military’s culture was her top priority.

Global News

by Mountaineer Mon 12 Jun 2023, 11:28 am

Canada’s wildfires need ‘multiple options’ for response: Anand

By Sean Boynton . Global News
Posted June 11, 2023

Canada’s defence minister says she is working with Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair to ensure “multiple options” are available to assist in the cross-country firefight — not just the Canadian Forces.

That comes as the provinces and territories battle increasingly devastating wildfires with the help of other agencies and outside partners. Those partners include the military, which Anita Anand says is in “growth mode” as it continues to struggle with an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis.

“Of course, I am always concerned about the Canadian Armed Forces and what we need to continue to be robust and to grow,” she told Mercedes Stephenson in an interview that aired Sunday on The West Block.

“I’ve had long conversations with Minister Blair about the need for us to continue to ensure that there are multiple options for assisting in crises such as natural disasters. And he and I are completely on the same page: that we will work with the provinces as necessary, we will source different types of support for the provinces in their time of need, and the Canadian Armed Forces are just one of those many different types of support, such as in the area of firefighting.”

As of Friday, 421 active wildfires were burning in Canada with 217 classified as out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

So far this year, 2,410 wildfires have torched 4.5 million hectares of land.

The historic fire season has shone a spotlight on Canada’s shortage of firefighters, many of whom are volunteers, prompting the military to be called into multiple provinces.

Anand said 150 military personnel are on the ground in Alberta and another 450 are in Quebec, with more ready to deploy to Nova Scotia and other provinces as needed.

Additional assistance has come from the international community, particularly the United States, which has sent more than 600 firefighters so far with the promise of more to come.

Help has also come in from South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that France, Portugal and Spain were also sending more than 280 firefighters to Canada.

“The reality is that first responders around the world are stepping up to assist with forest fires in Canada, recognizing that climate change is an issue that affects all of us and our allied relationships remain strong,” Anand said. “And that’s why we’re seeing such an international level of coordination and cooperation.”

The federal government is looking at creating a national disaster response agency that would replace the coordinated efforts of federal departments including Emergency Preparedness, Public Safety and National Defence.

As it helps with the wildfire response, the Canadian military also has to balance its obligations to the Indo-Pacific, which play a major part of the government’s new strategy for the region.

The importance of a strong military presence there was underscored last weekend, when Global News witnessed a Chinese navy ship cut off an American vessel and Canadian frigate at close range while sailing in the Taiwan Strait.

Anand said she has promised allies in the region that “you will see more of Canada here,” pointing to the commitment of a third frigate that will monitor the Taiwan Strait as an example of increased military presence.

But she added her department is ensuring its proposals for the Indo-Pacific can be achieved despite the challenges it currently faces, which include difficulty recruiting for the Royal Canadian Navy.

“Those are elements that we can meet within the constraints that we’re operating under,” she said. “At the same time, you’re right, we need to continue to grow.”

—with files from Global’s Saba Aziz and Reuters

Global News

by **Joker** Sat 29 Jul 2023, 6:57 am

Anita Anand ousted as Defence Minister because
proposed policy update too costly, say sources

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Published Jul 28, 2023

A reworking of the Liberal government’s defence policy update is underway after the document proposed by National Defence and Anita Anand was deemed to be unrealistic, according to multiple defence sources.

The Prime Minister’s Office is taking more of a hand in reworking the defence policy update, the sources noted. Defence Minister Anand tried at least twice to get the update approved but the document was rejected as unrealistic and too costly.

Anand had pushed the Canadian military’s position of a significant rearmament and reequipment plan at a time when the Liberal government is trying to get spending under control and finance major initiatives such as affordable housing and a national dental care program.

But PMO spokesperson Ann-Clara Vaillancourt said the information from sources about the Defence Policy Update is false. “Minister Anand was appointed as President of the Treasury Board to serve in an economic portfolio,” she added.

Vaillancourt did not provide information on why the Defence Policy Update has not been released. The document release was expected shortly before the NATO summit earlier this month. Vaillancourt did not provide information on when the update would be made public.

She referred to the statements from National Defence about ongoing consultations and that the update will be released “in a matter of months.”

In a letter to Canadian Forces personnel issued Thursday, new Defence Minister Bill Blair pointed out that he is focused on modernizing the capabilities of the joint U.S.-Canada North American Aerospace Defence Command as well as acquiring new equipment for the military. He noted the Defence Policy Update will be released “in the coming months.”

In March, Anand’s office released a statement to this newspaper that the policy update would be released in “the coming months.”

The defence policy update or DPU was announced on April 7, 2022. National Defence has already consulted with allied nations, the defence industry and defence experts who are closely aligned with the Canadian Forces and supportive of the military.

National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said Thursday that the department launched an online platform in March to gather feedback about the policy. That has resulted in over 1,500 submissions, he added. “This feedback has been key to ensuring that Defence’s long-term vision meets the expectations of Canadians, and we are taking these submissions into account in the crafting our defence policy update. We look forward to releasing it in due course.”

It remains to be seen if some of the ambitious Canadian Forces spending proposals will survive the rewrite of the defence policy update. Key among those was a plan by the Royal Canadian Navy to purchase up to 12 new submarines at a cost of $60 billion. In March, at a defence conference in Ottawa, Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre acknowledged he was advocating on behalf of the navy for the submarines.

But defence insiders acknowledged the plan faces an uphill battle to get approval from the Liberals in the policy update, considering that Canadians are more concerned about the lack of affordable housing, inflation and increasing costs for basic necessities such as food.

Anand’s timing on pushing the navy submarine program in the defence policy update couldn’t be worse. National Defence confirmed to this newspaper that it plans to release this fall new cost figures for the project to build 15 new warships for the navy. The original approved budget was $26 billion but the project, plagued by concerns about a lack of oversight and cost overruns, is expected to be saddled with a new price tag of more than $80 billion.

Another area of tension between Anand and the Prime Minister’s Office, say defence sources, was her decision to back Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Eyre’s position that Canada could not provide troops for a security mission to Haiti.

Earlier this year, U.S. President Joe Biden was pushing Canada to take the lead in a mission to support Haiti police in their struggle against gangs in the country. Biden had planned to continue discussions with Trudeau during his visit to Ottawa in late March.

But just weeks before Biden’s visit, Eyre gave an interview with Reuters stating the military didn’t have the capacity for a Haiti mission.

During his visit to Ottawa on March 24, Biden told journalists he wasn’t disappointed with the Canadian decision not to become involved in a military mission in Haiti. But defence insiders privately say the Americans were furious their request had been turned down.

Anand has dismissed claims that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to shuffle her from the defence portfolio to Treasury Board was a demotion. In an interview with CBC’s Power & Politics, she portrayed her new job as key to reining in federal government spending.

“I am going to have to speak with my colleagues about the need for prudent spending and I’m looking forward to those conversations as well,” she explained. “We need to continue to have our eye on how we can help Canadians during this economic time.”

Anand’s focus is no longer trying to convince the Liberal government to spend tens of billions of dollars for new submarines and tanks. She told CBC her new role is one of ensuring the government is spending public funds wisely while delivering on key platform promises like dental and child care. “I’ve just come out of my first briefing and I can tell you that that’s exactly what I’m focused on,” she said.

David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe

Londoner

by **Spider** Fri 29 Sep 2023, 10:02 am

Canada’s military training ‘not for sale,’ minister says after top brass warning

By Nathaniel Dove & David Baxter . Global News
Posted September 28, 2023

Defence Minister Bill Blair says the government is looking at whether to bring in legislation restricting who former Canadian Forces members can train or share information with that they have learned through their service.

It comes as Canada’s top soldier and a deputy minister are warning members of the Canadian Forces against working and sharing information with militaries “whose interests diverge from our own.”

“The training that our people receive, as I’ve already said, it’s among the best in the world,” Blair told reporters on his way into a meeting of the House of Commons defence committee.

“It is a significant investment we make in members of the Canadian Armed Forces. And that investment is not for sale.”

He added: “If the investigation identifies that we need to strengthen legislation, I’m prepared to take those steps.”

In a statement posted Thursday, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre and Deputy Minister Bill Matthews warn that recent reports have raised concerns about former Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots possibly sharing their knowledge and expertise with armed forces of other nations.

“(O)ur adversaries and competitors actively and aggressively strive to enhance their own capabilities, knowledge, and expertise by harnessing Canada’s experiences and those of our allies,” the statement says.

“All Defence Team members, civilian and military, serving and retired, must be alive to this stark reality. This is real.”

The statement comes three weeks after the RCMP announced it is investigating former RCAF training Chinese fighter pilots – which also follows a report from last year that Beijing was looking to recruit pilots from NATO countries.

Blair said he cannot comment on this specific matter due to the investigation being in progress.

China has had tension with the militaries of western nations in recent years, including documented buzzings of Canadian jets and sailing through the path an American ship in the Strait of Taiwan in June.

Stephen Saideman, director of the Canadian Defence and Security Network based out of Carleton University, said China is trying to catch up with other nations on military intelligence.

“They’ve hacked intelligence records for the United States government. They’ve gotten engaged in spying and all the rest of it. This is just something you do,” he said.

“And this is something that they’re going to do because they’re trying to catch up and get as much information as they can about their adversaries.”

Thursday’s statement from Eyre and Matthews, the military’s top soldier and the top bureaucrat responsible for the defence department, said the reports serve as a sober reminder for CAF members to protect the information and skills members gain throughout their careers.

“Safeguarding this information is a cornerstone of our ability to conduct activities and operations, both at home and abroad with our allies and partners. Sensitive information and knowledge must be appropriately protected from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, transmission, disposal, or destruction,” they write.

They go on to say that it’s crucial current and former CAF members understand that even unclassified information can be sensitive and disclosing it could harm the interests of Canada and its partners.

“Unauthorized disclosure or misuse of information can have severe consequences for Canada’s national security.”

The message says the CAF and the Department of National Defence are improving their internal processes so employees have a clearer understanding of their responsibilities after leaving either organization.

— with a file from Global’s Aaron D’Andrea

Global News

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