Section: Ottawa Citizen (Canada)
At a glance: The government’s spending priorities
From the CBC and museums, to defence and foreign affairs, the federal government’s spending plan for the next year offers a glimpse of where the Conservatives will focus their efforts this election year. Treasury Board President Tony Clement said in a written statement that the 2015-16 Main Estimates demonstrate the government is “committed...
Ukraine gets Radarsat imagery while Canadian military faces shortage of data
Canada’s military will be providing Ukraine with satellite imagery even though it’s facing a critical shortage when it comes to acquiring such surveillance data for its own use, according to documents obtained by the Citizen. The Conservative government received a request from the Ukrainians in September to provide the imagery from...
Sweden pitches plan for better Nordic defence cooperation in wake of Russian actions in Ukraine
Against a backdrop of increasing security tensions sparked by Russia’s actions in Ukraine, Sweden has won universal Nordic backing for its plan to elevate cross-border defence cooperation to match the actual long-term threats in the region, writes my Defense News colleague Gerard O’Dwyer. Here is more of what Gerard O’Dwyer...
Glavin: The fiasco of bill C-51
“Our own society is still, broadly speaking, liberal. To exercise your right of free speech you have to fight against economic pressure and against strong sections of public opinion, but not, as yet, against a secret police force.” – George Orwell, The Prevention of Literature, 1946. It’s a bit of a stretch to say, as some are saying, that...
Harper noncommittal on question of arming Ukraine
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vowed to “never accept the illegal occupation of Ukraine by Russia,” but won’t say whether Canada could give Ukraine weapons and other “lethal” military aid to fight Russian-backed rebels. Appearing alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel following an hour-long, closed-door meeting on Parliament Hill...
Rob Nicholson: Harper picks safe bet for Foreign Affairs
The Change: Rob Nicholson, former Defence minister, becomes minister of Foreign Affairs. He replaces John Baird after the latter’s surprise resignation last week. The File: The crisis in Ukraine and the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have dominated Canada’s international agenda since last year, and that...
Jason Kenney: Defence minister facing funding cuts, procurement battles
The change: Jason Kenney becomes the new minister of National Defence, taking over from Rob Nicholson, who becomes the new Foreign Affairs minister. Kenney is the third defence minister in the last 19 months. He leaves the post of minister of employment and social development (formerly Human Resources and Skills Development Canada). But he...
Cabinet shuffle: Kenney becomes defence minister; Nicholson moves to foreign affairs; Poilievre to employment ministry
Prime Minister Stephen Harper shuffled his cabinet Monday, moving veterans Jason Kenney to defence and Rob Nicholson to foreign affairs, and giving Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre two extra portfolios: employment and social development, and responsibility for the National Capital Commission. Harper was forced to shuffle his cabinet...
Ukraine hops for more help from Canada
Ukraine’s top diplomat in Ottawa says Canada “can do more” to help his country, as Western nations debate providing weapons and other “lethal” military aid to government forces fighting Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine. In an exclusive interview with the Citizen, Ukrainian chargé d’affaires Shevchenko Marko thanked Canada for...
Defence Minister Nicholson not worried NATO’s plan might spark confrontation with Russia
By David Pugliese Defence Watch Defence Minister Rob Nicholson doesn’t seem too concerned that NATO’s plan to set up command centres in six Eastern European countries could lead to future clashes between the alliance and the Russians. NATO will expand its rapid response force from 13,000 to 30,000 soldiers and it will establish six...
