Canadian Armed Forces

A CH-148 Cyclone helicopter from 12 Wing Shearwater, home of 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, flies near the base in Eastern Passage, N.S. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. Work has begun on the software issue identified as a cause of last year’s naval helicopter crash off Greece that killed six Canadian crew members, but the full extent of the changes and costs involved won’t be known until spring next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

‘Scope’ and cost of software fix to naval helicopters expected in spring 2022

Military has recently found cracks in the tail of most choppers in the fleet

A CH-148 Cyclone helicopter from 12 Wing Shearwater, home of 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, flies near the base in Eastern Passage, N.S. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. Work has begun on the software issue identified as a cause of last year’s naval helicopter crash off Greece that killed six Canadian crew members, but the full extent of the changes and costs involved won’t be known until spring next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
A CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter is seen during a training exercise at 12 Wing Shearwater near Dartmouth, N.S. on Wednesday, March 4, 2015. The Canadian military’s fleet of maritime helicopters is undergoing special inspections and repairs after cracks were recently found in the tails of four CH-148 Cyclones. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Military repairing cracks in the tails of most CH-148 Cyclone helicopters

Tail cracks were first detected in one of the maritime helicopters during a routine inspection

A CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter is seen during a training exercise at 12 Wing Shearwater near Dartmouth, N.S. on Wednesday, March 4, 2015. The Canadian military’s fleet of maritime helicopters is undergoing special inspections and repairs after cracks were recently found in the tails of four CH-148 Cyclones. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
A CH-146 Griffon helicopter is loaded on board a C-177 Globemaster III as the Canadian Armed Forces send relief to the floods in British Columbia, in Quebec City, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

500 troops in B.C. helping with flood works, delivering supplies to cut-off areas

Mike Farnworth praised federal government responsiveness in B.C. disaster zone

A CH-146 Griffon helicopter is loaded on board a C-177 Globemaster III as the Canadian Armed Forces send relief to the floods in British Columbia, in Quebec City, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Damage caused by heavy rains and mudslides earlier in the week is pictured along the Coquihalla Highway near Hope, B.C., Thursday, November 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Restoring supply chains, military aid top federal priorities for flood-ravaged B.C.

Many major highways, rail lines in the province are out of commission following landslides

Damage caused by heavy rains and mudslides earlier in the week is pictured along the Coquihalla Highway near Hope, B.C., Thursday, November 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A portrait of Brig.-Gen. William Fletcher is shown in this August 27, 2020 handout image provided by DND. The senior military commander in Western Canada says he doesn’t expect much opposition from Canadian Forces personnel over mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. THECANADIAN PRESS/HO-DND **

Senior army commander says 90% of military personnel are fully vaccinated

Members of the military have helped with both pandemic assistance and vaccine distribution across the country

A portrait of Brig.-Gen. William Fletcher is shown in this August 27, 2020 handout image provided by DND. The senior military commander in Western Canada says he doesn’t expect much opposition from Canadian Forces personnel over mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. THECANADIAN PRESS/HO-DND **
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin arrives to be processed at the Gatineau Police Station in Gatineau, Que., on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. Government lawyers told a Federal Court judge that she should not reinstate Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin as the head of Canada’s vaccine rollout campaign because if he wasn’t happy with the decision, he could have filed a grievance with his commander.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Military’s grievance system plagued by backlog, needs urgent reform: retired judge

Many service members wait years before their issue is resolved

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin arrives to be processed at the Gatineau Police Station in Gatineau, Que., on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. Government lawyers told a Federal Court judge that she should not reinstate Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin as the head of Canada’s vaccine rollout campaign because if he wasn’t happy with the decision, he could have filed a grievance with his commander.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Afghans walk through a security barrier as they enter Pakistan through a common border crossing point in Chaman, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. Hundreds of Pakistanis and Afghans cross the border daily through Chaman to visit relatives, receive medical treatment and for business-related activities. Pakistani has not placed any curbs on their movement despite recent evacuations from Kabul. (AP Photo)

Last Canadian military flight takes off from Kabul, ending mission

Gen. Wayne Eyre says the Canadians were among the last to leave

Afghans walk through a security barrier as they enter Pakistan through a common border crossing point in Chaman, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021. Hundreds of Pakistanis and Afghans cross the border daily through Chaman to visit relatives, receive medical treatment and for business-related activities. Pakistani has not placed any curbs on their movement despite recent evacuations from Kabul. (AP Photo)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. Public Safety Canada says it has approved a request for help from the Northwest Territories as the territory deals with a surge in COVID-19 cases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/NIAID-RML via AP

Military called in to help N.W.T. as territory sees surge of COVID-19 cases

The Fort Good Hope area has been particularly hard hit, with 86 active cases in a community of about 500

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. Public Safety Canada says it has approved a request for help from the Northwest Territories as the territory deals with a surge in COVID-19 cases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/NIAID-RML via AP
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, vice-president of logistics and operations at the Public Health Agency of Canada, participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, vice-president of logistics and operations at the Public Health Agency of Canada, participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan takes part in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. Newly released documents show Sajjan personally directed the military last year to take the unprecedented step of providing him with an assistant in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Sajjan directed military to provide him with aide in Vancouver

McCullough was hired to support Sajjan in March 2020 despite an external investigation

Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan takes part in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. Newly released documents show Sajjan personally directed the military last year to take the unprecedented step of providing him with an assistant in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
In this Nov. 1, 2018, file photo U.S. Air Force F-35 A-fighter jets from 31st Test Evaluation Squadron at Edwards AFB fly over Levi’s Stadium before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif. Canada has quietly made another multimillion-dollar payment toward development of the F-35 stealth fighter despite uncertainty over whether it will buy the stealth fighter and calls from some prominent Canadians not to purchase any new fighter jets.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Ben Margot

Canada spends another US$71M on F-35 amid calls to cancel fighter jet purchase

The F-35, which is built by U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin, is competing against American rival Boeing’s Super Hornet

In this Nov. 1, 2018, file photo U.S. Air Force F-35 A-fighter jets from 31st Test Evaluation Squadron at Edwards AFB fly over Levi’s Stadium before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif. Canada has quietly made another multimillion-dollar payment toward development of the F-35 stealth fighter despite uncertainty over whether it will buy the stealth fighter and calls from some prominent Canadians not to purchase any new fighter jets.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Ben Margot
Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance watches a news conference from the front row of seats Thursday May 7, 2020 in Ottawa. Retired general Vance, former chief of the defence staff, has been charged with obstruction of justice.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Former defence chief Jonathan Vance charged with obstruction of justice

The criminal charge will be pursued in civilian court

Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance watches a news conference from the front row of seats Thursday May 7, 2020 in Ottawa. Retired general Vance, former chief of the defence staff, has been charged with obstruction of justice.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Afghans wait inside the passport office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Ottawa will continue sending humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan after the United States completes its troop withdrawal from the country next month, International Development Minister Karina Gould says. U.S. President Joe Biden said last week the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan will end Aug. 31, nearly 20-year after the United States and its allies took down the Taliban government in Kabul. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Rahmat Gul

Canada to aid Afghanistan after U.S. troop withdrawal next month, minister says

U.S. President Joe Biden said last week the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan will end Aug. 31

Afghans wait inside the passport office in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Ottawa will continue sending humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan after the United States completes its troop withdrawal from the country next month, International Development Minister Karina Gould says. U.S. President Joe Biden said last week the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan will end Aug. 31, nearly 20-year after the United States and its allies took down the Taliban government in Kabul. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Rahmat Gul
Federal Supreme Court Justice, Richard Wagner (left) confers with his colleague Supreme Court Justice Morris Fish in Ottawa, Monday December 10 2012. Fish is calling for urgent reforms to Canada’s military justice system to prevent victims of misconduct, sexual and otherwise, from continuing to suffer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

Urgent reforms needed to military justice system to protect misconduct victims: Fish

Retired Supreme Court judge’s comments follow the release of an explosive 400-page report earlier this month

Federal Supreme Court Justice, Richard Wagner (left) confers with his colleague Supreme Court Justice Morris Fish in Ottawa, Monday December 10 2012. Fish is calling for urgent reforms to Canada’s military justice system to prevent victims of misconduct, sexual and otherwise, from continuing to suffer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand
Canadian Armed Forces experts are on their way to North Vancouver after a local homeowner expressed worry about a military artifact he recently purchased. (Twitter DNV Fire and Rescue)

Military called in to deal with antique ‘shell’ at North Vancouver home

‘The person somehow purchased a bombshell innocently believing it was an out-of-commission military artifact’

Canadian Armed Forces experts are on their way to North Vancouver after a local homeowner expressed worry about a military artifact he recently purchased. (Twitter DNV Fire and Rescue)
FILE – Canadian Joint Operations Commander Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau speaks during a news conference on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Senior officer who golfed with Vance has power over military police investigations

Vance has denied any wrongdoing in relation to the allegations

FILE – Canadian Joint Operations Commander Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau speaks during a news conference on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Military health-care personnel are on site at a mobile health unit at Sunnybrook Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Friday, April 30, 2021. The Department of National Defence says Canadian military personnel are coming forward in droves to be vaccinated, with more than 85 per cent of all troops have received at least one dose. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canadian troops lining up in droves to be vaccinated with 85% receiving one dose

Troops are not required to get vaccinated, but leaders have encouraged them to do so to protect themselves

Military health-care personnel are on site at a mobile health unit at Sunnybrook Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Friday, April 30, 2021. The Department of National Defence says Canadian military personnel are coming forward in droves to be vaccinated, with more than 85 per cent of all troops have received at least one dose. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole holds a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, May 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Liberals silent on nature of Fortin probe or who will replace him on vaccine campaign

Some experts have expressed worry over the lack of information about the nature of the investigation

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole holds a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, May 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Capt. Jenn Casey died in a crash just outside of Kamloops, B.C., on May 17, 2020. (CF Snowbirds)

Snowbirds to honour Capt. Casey, who died in B.C. crash, in 2021 tour

Tour will kick off in Ontario in June before heading west

Capt. Jenn Casey died in a crash just outside of Kamloops, B.C., on May 17, 2020. (CF Snowbirds)
A Canadian flag patch is shown on a soldier’s shoulder in Trenton, Ont., on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. The Canadian Forces says it has charged one of its members in the death of an army reservist from British Columbia during a training exercise at a military base in Alberta last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Canadian Forces member charged in death of army reservist during training exercise

Cpl. Lars Callsen has been charged with one count of negligence

A Canadian flag patch is shown on a soldier’s shoulder in Trenton, Ont., on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. The Canadian Forces says it has charged one of its members in the death of an army reservist from British Columbia during a training exercise at a military base in Alberta last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg