Podcasts about defence minister harjit sajjan

On this episode of The Alex Pierson Podcast, our host Alex Pierson first is joined by the Ottawa Bureau Chief for the Globe & Mail, Robert Fife. Fife has published a new piece which highlights that former Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan received "political donations" for directing Canadian troops to specifically airlift a group of Afghan Sikhs out of Kabul when the Taliban retook the country. Robert and Alex talk about what Minister Sajjan has to say in his defence, and why this excuse left hundreds of Afghan interpreters stranded in what quickly became hostile territory. Next, Alex and Warren Kinsella, the President of The Daisy Group and former strategist for Jean Chrétien dive into what seems to be dissent growing within the Liberal ranks. Prime Minister Trudeau has chosen to avoid the Calgary Stampede and subsequently, a caucus meeting in Alberta. But could this be to avoid these MPs calling for his removal? Alex and Warren also turn their attention south of the border and discuss what the Democratic party will do if President Biden either chooses to run...or step aside. Finally, the US Department of Justice offered Boeing a plea bargain for violating previous agreements to improve its manufacturing process and safety, which resulted in at least 2 separate plane crashes killing a total of 346 people. Alex speaks with the attorney representing the victims' family members, Robert Cillford, who is a Sr. Partner at Clifford Law Offices. Robert tells Alex why he believes the DOJ offered this deal out of cowardice, and how this will only further hurt the families of the victims instead of help at all. GUEST: Robert Fife, Ottawa Bureau Chief for The Globe & Mail GUEST: Warren Kinsella, President of The Daisy Group & the former political strategist for Jean Chrétien GUEST: Robert Clifford, co-founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled his newest cabinet last week, and there were some new faces in prominent positions, and some surprise demotions. Melanie Joly and Anita Anand were among a number of women promoted to senior positions, while embattled Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Mark Garneau were among key demotions as the Liberals get set to return to the House of Commons in a few weeks. Tasha Kheiriddin, National Post columnist and principal with Navigator LTD, joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss what we can expect from this cabinet in terms of priorities, how this sets the Liberals up for the next election, and how the cabinet signals who could be in the running to eventually replace Justin Trudeau. Further reading: Tasha Kheiriddin: Trudeau is already setting up the next election with a Big Government cabinet

Libby Znaimer is joined by NDP MPP (Nickel-Belt) and health critic France G

Power & Politics for Thursday, August 26th with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Alberta strategists Leah Ward, Melissa Caouette and Corey Hogan, the Alberta Medical Association's Dr. Michelle Bailey, and the Power Panel.

Power & Politics for Wednesday, July 21st with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Mexican Ambassador to Canada Juan José Gómez-Camacho, Canada's Chief Science Advisor Mona Nemer, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Executive Director Kim Connors, and the Power Panel.

Hamilton is now considered a Delta Hotspot. What does that mean for us, what do hotspots signal to the rest of the province as restrictions ease, and is the provincial government responding appropriately? Meanwhile, NACI has new recommendations for your second dose: just get Pfizer or Moderna. GUEST: Dr. Ahmad Firas Khalid, Health Policy expert. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan was censured on Thursday after a majority of votes in the House of Commons condemned him over his handling of three files in his portfolio, including military sexual misconduct. The motion, put forward by Conservative defence critic James Bezan, was passed by a vote of 169-151. The Bloc, NDP and Tories mostly voted in favour of the motion to censure, with Liberals voting against it. Bezan had put forward a motion to censure Sajjan for his handling of allegations of sexual misconduct within the Canadian Forces as well as his handling of the court case against Vice-Adm. Mark Norman, the former chief of the defence staff, and Sajjan's handling of the mission against ISIS. The motion also accuses Sajjan of “misleading Canadians about his service record” but does not provide specific examples. GUEST: MP James Bezan GUEST: Christian Leuprecht, Professor at both the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen's University, and a Fellow at the Macdonald Laurier Institute The Founder of Moderna says Canada must become a biotech hub in preparation for future pandemics. GUEST: Ian Lee, Associate Professor with the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are reports that we could soon hear an announcement on easing travel restrictions; The Conservatives demand that Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan be fired; The Green Party federal council votes on whether to begin the process that could remove Annamie Paul as leader.

Evan Solomon discusses the latest updates on the decision to keep schools closed until September in Ontario.  On today's show:  Evan discusses the growing anger across the country over landmarks named after residential school leaders and responds to those calling this "cancel culture." We play Evan's full interview with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan about a new report on sexual misconduct in Canada's military.  Liberal MPP Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario Premier, weighs-in on Ontario schools with Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, ICU and Palliative care doctor.  We carry Ontario Premier Doug Ford's press conference live.  Colin Furness, infection control epidemiologist and assistant professor at the faculty of information at the University Toronto, shares his thoughts on the decision to keep schools closed in Ontario. 

Power & Politics for Tuesday, June 1 with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, author and Globe & Mail columnist Tanya Talaga, Manitoba COVID-19 Vaccination Task Force Medical Lead Dr. Joss Reimer, Lakehead University professor Scott Hamilton, and the Power Panel. This episode discusses news that a First Nation says it has found the remains of 215 children buried at a B.C. residential school. If you or someone you know needs support after hearing this story, crisis lines are available. Kuu-us Crisis Line Adults - 250-723-4050 Youth - 250-723-2040 1-800-588-8717

Evan Solomon discusses COVID-19 vaccine passports and when they could be coming to Canada.  On today's show:  We play Evan's full interview with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan on the allegations against Gen. Jonathan Vance. We play Evan's full interview with Health Minister Patty Hajdu on vaccine passports and international travel restrictions.  Guy Felicella, a former drug dealer now advocate, explains how he is helping vaccinate people struggling with homelessness and drug addiction in Vancouver.  Dan Riskin, Bell Media science expert, discusses a new scientific discovery that could save the future of coffee production in the wake of climate change.   Mubin Shaikh, former counter terrorism operative, talks about Proud Boys Canada dissolving itself. 

Host Evan Solomon discusses the week's top political stories with Health Minister Patty Hajdu, Liberal MP Julie Dabrusin, NDP MP Heather McPherson and Conservative MP Eric Duncan, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne, CTV News’ Joyce Napier, Stephanie Levitz from The Canadian Press and Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist at University of Toronto.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan joins Peter Van Dusen to discuss military misconduct, the government’s plan for another independent review by a retired Supreme Court justice, and continuing questions about his own handling of allegations – including those involving the former chief of defence staff. Vicki McKenna, president of the Ontario Nurses Association, talks about the pressure nurses are facing as hospitals operate above capacity during the third wave of COVID-19, with ICU patients at a record high. And political commentators Kiavash Najafi, Tim Powers, and Susan Smith analyze the latest headlines.

Amanda Connolly, national online journalist, Global News

On today's show, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo declares a local state of emergency as COVID-19 cases rise in the area, we check in Mayor Don Scott. Low orbit around earth is getting crowded, we get the details from Dr. Siamak Hesar, an aerospace engineer who previously supported multiple NASA missions before co-founding Kayhan Space. Plus, we get an update on the sexual misconduct in the Canadian military and what's being done about it with Global News national online journalist, Amanda Connolly.

Power & Politics for Thursday, April 29th with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, Retired Major Carly Arkell. and the Power Panel.

Martin Stringer welcomes MPs Anita Vandenbeld (Liberal), James Bezan (Conservative), and Randall Garrison (NDP) in the wake of today’s combative committee hearing on military misconduct with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Also: Erica Ifill (The Hill Times) and Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) discuss the week’s top stories.

Alex Speaks with Mercedes Stephenson, Ottawa Bureau Chief and host of The West Block about the still developing investigation into sexual allegations laid against former Chief of the Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance. Then Conservative MP Michael Barrett speaks with Alex about the recent developments in the WE Charity scandal, and why the Kielburger brothers refuse to testify in two House of Commons committees. And finally, Alex speaks with Lawrence Herman, Sr. Fellow of the C.D. Howe Institute and counsel at Herman and Associates about the many issues surrounding the Enbridge Line 5 Pipeline, and why Canada shouldn't let America kill it.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest: David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen reporter - covering the military and national defense. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two of this country’s former top military leaders are facing accusations of sexual misconduct. Last week, recently appointed chief of defence staff Admiral Art McDonald stepped aside after it was discovered he was under investigation by the military's National Investigation Service; his predecessor, Gen. Jonathan Vance is also under investigation for inappropriate behaviour. All of this has had many people wondering: what did Canada’s minister of defence know, and when did he know it? Opposition parties hoped to find answers this week as former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne testified before a House of Commons committee — and that testimony did not look good for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Rosie and Elamin break down what came out of the committee, what it says about the state of Canada’s military and what kind of change might be necessary after years of efforts to root out sexual misconduct among their ranks. The two also check in on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as the feds expect about 945,000 doses to arrive this week alone. As more jurisdictions are able to start vaccinating more people, are governments prioritizing those who need it most?

Host Evan Solomon discusses the week's top political stories with Health Canada's Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma, Procurement Minister Anita Anand, Federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.

Peter Van Dusen questions Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan on the investigation into Admiral Art McDonald, who has temporarily stepped down as chief of defence staff while unspecified past allegations are probed. We also have reaction from Conservative MP James Bezan and NDP MP Randall Garrison. Auditor General Karen Hogan discusses the major findings from her latest round of reports, including First Nations drinking water, shipbuilding, and rail safety. Epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan talks about Ontario’s latest modelling numbers and vaccine rollouts.

Power & Politics for Thursday, February 25th with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Lawyer & Retired Colonel Michel Drapeau, It'sJust700 Founder & Retired Sailor First Class Marie-Claude Gagnon, Maj. Donna Riguidel, Former Vice Chief of Defence Staff Ret. Lt.-Gen. Guy Thibault, and the Power Panel.

Power & Politics for Friday, November 27th with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, The Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy's Sahir Khan, the Conference Board of Canada's Pedro Antunes, and the Power Panel.

For some time now, Ottawa Citizen journalist David Pugliese has been digging into the so-called ‘weaponization’ of the Canadian military’s public affairs branch. He’s recently obtained documents suggesting that the military had wanted to set up this new organization to influence Canadians using propaganda and other techniques. According to the office of the Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, this plan will not go forward. But it’s just the latest in a story that involves everything from dossiers on journalists to a fake pack of wolves. Today, David Pugliese explains what he’s learned.

Power & Politics speaks to former Canadian ambassadors to China David Mulroney and Guy Saint-Jacques about what the Meng ruling could mean for Canada's relationship with China. Also on the show, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan on the military's deployment to long-term care homes in Ontario and Quebec.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who represented Canada at the inauguration of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, says was in Kyiv to "demonstrate Canada's unwavering support the people of Ukraine."

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan; Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer; Former defence minister Peter MacKay, The Globe and Mail's Michelle Zilio, The Toronto Star's Tonda MacCharles, CTV News Chief Political Commentator Craig Oliver; Quebec Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette and Former CSIS director Richard Fadden.

The Roy Green Show Podcast - Jody Wilson-Raybould's testimony before the parliamentary justice committee on Wednesday rocked the Trudeau government. The Prime Minister said he "completely disagrees with the former Attorney General's characterizations of events." The attacks on Wilson-Raybould and her credibility have since begun while Canadians have largely expressed strong support for the former Attorney General. Roy speaks with Chief Bill Wilson, Kwakwaka'wakw hereditary chief and Jodie Wilson-Raybould's father, about how the Trudeau Liberals and others have reacted to his daughter's testimony. One of the reactions to Jody Wilson-Raybould's testimony came from Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, who declared that he was "sickened and appalled" and immediately called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign. The Conservative Party's leader joins Roy to discuss what comes next. Canadians are becoming increasingly familiar with the story around a criminal charge against Vice Admiral Mark Norman, and his removal from command. Norman has been charged with breach of trust for allegedly leaking cabinet information concerning the acquisition of a much needed supply ship for the Canadian Navy. Now Admiral Norman's lawyers—led by Marie Heinen—are zeroing in on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Gerald Butts, Trudeau Chief of Staff Katie Telford, Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick, and Zita Astravas, former issues manager in the PM's Office and now chief of staff to Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Brian Platt covered this for the National Post. From May 2012 - November 2014, the Charbonneau Commission investigated the infiltration of Quebec's construction industry by crime groups. It resulted in 66,000 pages of transcript, with the Mafia and Hells Angels identified as major players. SNC-Lavalin surfaced here as well as the company had been illegally delivering funds to Quebec politicians it favoured. A "Strawman" practice was engaged where SNC employees and their family members, some earning as little as $32,000 per year, donated up to $1000 to either the provincial Liberals or Parti Quebecois. Between 1998 and 2010 $1 million had been 'donated.' It was understood that the company would reimburse these political party gifts at the end of the year through performance bonuses for those employees. Antonio Nicaso is an expert on organized crime who testified before the Charbonneau Commission. He and Roy now discuss corruption in Quebec, and the concerns surrounding SNC-Lavalin. How is the SNC-Lavalin Affair viewed outside Canada's borders? The New York Times published a story titled:  The Strange Story Behind the SNC-Lavalin Affair, in which writer Ian Austen takes apart the Affair in point form. Ian joins Roy to explain the perception held by Americans, and how he took on the story. - Guests: Chief Bill Wilson, Kwakwaka'wakw hereditary chief, and Jodie Wilson-Raybould's father Andrew Scheer, Leader of the Conservative Party Brian Platt, Parliament Hill reporter for the National Post Antonio Nicaso, expert on organized Crime, Queen's University lecturer and author of 27 books on Organized Crime, including ‘Bad Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizutto's Last War' which has been adapted into the Television series ‘Bad Blood,' now on Netflix Ian Austen, reports on Canada for the New York Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of Counterpoint, Alex is joined by: Mike Van Soelen - Principal at Navigator, communications strategist and commentator & Stephen Ledrew - Toronto-based lawyer and broadcaster Topics include: In a political double-whammy, Jody Wilson-Raybould makes an appearance at a cabinet meeting in Ottawa, despite resigning from said cabinet just days earlier and an SNC executive has charges against them thrown out. Plus, a group of angry college students make a loud impression on Doug Ford and Queens Park, Canadian taxpayers essentially payed $161,000 for photographers to take pictures of Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and actor Jussie Smollet could face felony charges after filing a false police report regarding an alleged attack back on January 29th.  

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says it’s too early to know what Canada’s contribution to NATO's new “Four Thirties” initiative will look like.

Global arms sales on the rise and Canada invests in quantum technology  In this episode, Marcello Sukhdeo talks about the rise in global arms sales, Canada and UAE sign defence cooperation agreement and the investment of the government in quantum technology.  Show Notes:  The world's 100 biggest weapons companies have increased arm sales for the first time in five years, reaching more than 370 billion dollars annually.   In its annual assessment of global arms sales, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute recently published a report that shows that last year saw the end of five consecutive years of decline with a 1.9 per cent increase in total sales.   “The growth in arms sales was expected and is driven by the implementation of new national major weapons programmes, ongoing military operations in several countries and persistent regional tensions that are leading to increased demand for weapons,” the report states.    Those weapons programmes include substantial investment in naval and air capacity, including submarines in the US and UK, as well as new-generation combat aircraft such as the F-35, made by Lockheed Martin. The US, with the world's largest defence budget, has identified spending last year of $45bn on aircraft and related systems and $27bn on shipbuilding and maritime systems.   Canada and UAE sign defence cooperation agreement  Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a defence cooperation arrangement that will make it easier for the Canadian defence industry to access one of the world's most lucrative arms markets and bolster military ties between the two countries.  Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan signed the agreement during his five-day tour of the Middle East that included stops in Jordan, the UAE and Kuwait.  “The signing of the Canada-UAE Defence Cooperation Arrangement is a testament to the enduring partnership between our nations,” Sajjan said in a statement. “We will continue our joint efforts to counter violent extremism in the Middle East as we work to build a more peaceful and prosperous world for both Canadians and the Emirati people.”  The UAE ranks among the top 15 defence spenders in the world, according to Business Monitor International.  Government of Canada invests in national security technology  The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is awarding $1.5 million to the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) to lead the science of a mission called the Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite (QEYSSat), which will protect the communications and data of Canadians on Earth and in space.  It is estimated that within 10 to 20 years, the encryption codes used by computers today will be easily decoded by high-performing quantum computers, making current encryption technology obsolete.  This investment will advance encryption methods, which use highly advanced computing technology to create unbreakable security codes.   

In this episode, we take a look at the RFPs that were submitted for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program and with the North Korea threat, Canada has set aside two bunkers at military bases.    Show Notes:  The Navantia Team  The Navantia team has made an announcement of the submission of its proposal.  The team, which is led by Navantia is comprised of Saab Australia which will deliver the Combat Systems Integrator (CSI) and CEA Technologies to provide other key elements of the proposed solution.  The team's solution is based on “the proven F-105 frigate design” for the Spanish Navy. This design coupled with capabilities of key Canadian companies will provide a ship that is ideally suited to Canada's requirement, according to the press release.  Navantia has a history of providing modifications of this design for many navies including the Norwegian Navy and, most recently, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).    Canada's Combat Ship Team has announced the delivery of its proposal  Comprising of BAE Systems, CAE, Lockheed Martin Canada, L3 Technologies, MDA and Ultra Electronics, Canada's Combat Ship Team's proposal is focused on the “Canadian doctrine” according to Rosemary Chapdelaine, Vice President and General Manager at Lockheed Martin Canada Rotary and Missions Systems (RMS).  The team which is headed by Lockheed Martin Canada is offering “the most advanced and modern” warship design from BAE Systems – the Type 26 Global Combat Ship – along with innovations from other leading companies in Canada. Lockheed Martin Canada will provide its world-renowned Canadian-developed combat management system, the CMS 330 to integrate with the Type 26.  Due to the North Korean threat Canada has open up two bunkers  The Privy Council Office, drafted an agreement with National Defence a year ago to open up bunkers on two military bases should the National Capital Region become "unviable," according to documents obtained by CBC News under access to information legislation.  Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan was asked Wednesday what would happen should a missile land in Canada.   "When it comes to any type of foreign threats, we take them extremely seriously," he said. "We've been looking at North Korea right from the beginning when I was given this portfolio. I am very mindful of the country's missile testing that they have been doing. We believe that the diplomatic solution is the way to go, because I think that there is hope for it." 

This week The West Block is in Halifax covering the Halifax International Security Forum where leaders from over seventy countries have gathered to talk about advancing a modern vision of security.  We talk to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about member nations, including Canada, meeting their pledged financial support for the alliance and what NATO is asking its members to do regarding Afghanistan.  We also sit down with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen to talk about Russia and its interference in the U.S. election and the present relationship between Putin and Trump. And, will Canada intervene and take a role to help ease the tensions between Iraqi and Kurdish leaders given we have troops on the ground, caught in the middle? Guests: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg; U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen; Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.

In this episode, a new directive on how CSE shares intelligence with Canada's closest allies, the new defence policy could end up costing Canada billions more and an interview with Jeffery Hutchinson, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard.  Show Notes  According to a story from CBC News, the office of Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan is crafting a directive for how Canada's electronic spy agency, that is the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) shares its foreign signals intelligence with its closest allies, the Five Eyes partners. The Five Eyes alliance is made up of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. CSE's commissioner first advised the defence minister to issue such a directive in 2013. Christopher Parsons, research associate at The Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs, said the purpose would be to authorize and draw boundaries around what is permissible when gathering and sharing data. While there have been concerns about how the U.S. executive has treated intelligence information over the last six to eight months, Parsons said the directive may have as much to do with the current government's review of national security issues. "So there's bill C-59 tabled before the summer recesses. As part of that there is total reformation of the CSE Act. So that means the government is really looking at how things work in terms of the collection and dissemination of intelligence information at the moment," Parsons told CBC News. The new defence policy The new defence policy could end up costing billions more according to an article from the Canadian Press. Why? Because it doesn't include one big-ticket item: modernizing North America's early warning systems. That sets up a potentially difficult decision: to spend even more on defence than already promised, or to cut back on some of the other promises made to the military. The current network of long-range radars used by Canada and the U.S. to monitor airborne threats was built in the Arctic in the 1980s but is quickly nearing the end of its useful life. National Defence's top financial officer, Claude Rochette, says the department could not account for the cost because Canada and the U.S. have not decided what they actually need. “It's still a discussion that needs to be done before we get guidance (from government),” Rochette told The Canadian Press in an interview. “When we have guidance, then we will start looking at the options ... then we will start looking at costing. But that is not covered in the funding.” And for our last story, I would like to draw your attention to an Interview I did with Jeffery Hutchinson, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard. This was published in the June/July Vanguard print edition. Now, we have the full interview on our website. Be sure to check it out. In this interview I asked the Commissioner, his assessment of his new position, what is the focus and vision for the Canadian Coast Guard under his leadership, top challenges, fleet depletion and what is being done, his pressing needs in procurement. If you haven't looked at this yet, please head on over to VangaurdCanada.com and you will see the article on our home page or http://www.vanguardcanada.com/2017/08/29/interview-with-jeffery-hutchinson-commissioner-of-the-canadian-coast-guard/.

In this episode of Vanguard Radio, Marcello Sukhdeo talks about the news about Saudi Arabia using Canadian made military vehicles in clashes with militants, the former defence minister, Peter MacKay regrets not signing the U.S. ballistic missile defence program and the purchase of new machine guns for the Canadian Armed Forces. Show Notes Saudi Arabia The Government of Canada is investigating reports that Saudi Arabia is using Canadian made military vehicles in clashes with militants. The Foreign Affairs Minister, Chrystia Freeland is concerned and has asked officials to look into this matter. The statement from Freeland's department says, “If it is found that Canadian exports have been used to commit serious violations of human rights, the minister will take action.” Last year there was an outcry when the Trudeau government proceeded with a $15 billion deal to sell light armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia. This agreement was approved by the Harper government. Many called on the Liberals to cancel the deal given Saudi Arabia's widely criticized human rights record. But the former Foreign Affairs minister Stephane Dion said he couldn't block exports unless the armoured vehicles were being used against innocent civilians, something he had no evidence of. In speaking to the House of Commons back then, he said that he would “reverse the decision” if such equipment was used to commit human-rights abuses. Conservative foreign affairs critic Peter Kent has already called on the Liberals to terminate export permits if there is “hard evidence” that the Canadian weaponized armoured vehicles are being used against Saudi Arabia's Shia minority. Threat from North Korea Former defence minister Peter MacKay says he regrets not signing on to the U.S. ballistic missile defence program when he had the chance. This policy was a matter that was debated by the former Conservative government, and the previous Liberal administration. The former defence minister in speaking with CBC News said, "We share a great deal of intelligence with the United States and if they're alarmed, we should be alarmed." Not being involved in the program is "a huge problem.” The threat from North Korea has grown significantly recently as they've demonstrated the capability for launching intercontinental ballistic missiles that could potentially reach North America. The Harper government was in favour of joining the Bush Administration's missile defence shield but made no attempt to buy into the program. Even the Senate defence committee has twice recommended that Canada join this program but in June the Trudeau government opted not to lift the ban on involvement. MacKay said he believes very few people in the general public "grasp the gravity" of the current situation and the technological advances that have been made by the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.  New C6 Machine Guns The Canadian government will purchase over 1,100 new C6A1 FLEX General Purpose Machine Guns from Colt Canada at just over $32.1 million, according to Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. The current C6 machine guns were procured over 30 years ago. Some have been removed from service due to wear and tear and others are reaching the end of their service life, according to the Canadian military. The new machine guns are designed to be carried by soldiers or attached to vehicles such as the new TAPV. It will feature a durable polymer butt stock instead of the current wooden style. Also, soldiers will be able to attach pointing devices and optical sighting systems to the new weapon to help increase their operational effectiveness.  The contract includes related equipment such as a cleaning and repair kit, spare parts, and sling to carry the weapon. The first deliveries of the new C6 is expected in September 2018 with final deliveries by June

In the show today, Marcello Sukhdeo talks about the Canadian Forces readiness to fight wildfires in British Columbia, the extension of Canada's military mission in Iraq and the RCN deploys a team to SEA BREEZE 2017.   Wildfires in BC   For the first time since 2003, members of the Canadian Forces are in British Columbia getting ready to battle wildfires.   Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said on Sunday that Ottawa had received and approved a request for help battling the hundreds of wildfires that have prompted a state of emergency in the province.   He said that they will be on standby and ready to support provincial efforts, whatever that ask may be.   BC Chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek said that at this point they would first utilize their partner agencies from around Canada for trained wildfire staff before they would turn to support from the armed forces in terms of a front line fire suppression role.   Shifting weather patterns are raising concerns in the B.C. Interior where firefighters continue to battle hundreds of wildfires that have already forced over 14,000 people to flee their homes. Wind and lightning could make conditions much worse, sparking new fires and spreading them further.   Iraqi mission extended   The Liberal government has extended Canada's military mission in Iraq until March 31, 2019. In a news release, the government says that Canada will providing over $371 million over the next two years to support the cost of this renewed contribution to the Global Coalition against ISIS.   This extension includes the authority to provide training for new potential partners within the Iraqi security forces and a CC-130J Hercules aircraft for tactical airlift.   Critics are saying that the Liberals extended the mission without Parliamentary debate and that this type of situation should prompt a full debate in Parliament.   Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan told journalists on Thursday that the original mission was already debated in the House of Commons.   SEA BREEZE 2017   A team of 14 divers, support staff and staff officers from Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic and Maritime Forces Atlantic has been deployed by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to SEA BREEZE 2017.   Being led by the United States and Ukraine Navies, SEA BREEZE 2017 (SB17) is a multinational training event that is taking place in Odessa, Ukraine from July 10 to 21. This event will focus on training and exercise in maritime operations support information sharing and awareness of the maritime domain, according to a release from National Defence.   SB17 provides an invaluable opportunity for the Canadian Armed Forces to build and strengthen interoperability skills between Canada's international maritime allies. These skills when finely honed “are remarkably exportable to achieve higher levels of security in the international setting,” said Rear-Admiral John Newton.

Rex Murphy on Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan's new direction for Canada in Trump-era America.

Tax exemption for those serving on overseas missions, the military exercise Maple Resolve and the announcement of defence deals with Saudi Arabia that has caused shares to jump for some defence giants. All on this episode of Vanguard Radio. Show Notes: Tax exemption Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said late last week that the salaries of Canadian soldiers and police officers serving on overseas missions will no longer be federally taxed. This tax exemption is retroactive to Jan. 1 of this year and will cover 1,450 personnel who are currently serving on international operations. Maple Resolve Almost 5,000 military personnel are at CFB Wainwright in Alberta, taking part in the largest and most comprehensive military exercise of the year - Exercise Maple Resolve. Of this number, 4,000 are Canadians and the other 1,000 are soldiers from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Britain, training together in a fully immersive force-on-force battle scenario. Among the troops are hundreds of actors there to add friction to the war games. The aim of this exercise is to help the military practice their skills in an environment that is as realistic as possible for when they are deployed. Training centre commander Col. Peter Scott said the online news was used to help sway the opinions of the local population and is something that “commanders have to take into account in all of their planning going into any operations. I think the only thing that is missing is that there are not real bullets flying. We've created an environment that is as close as possible to what they will face on any given deployment.” When the exercise is over, the entire group will sit down and look at what went right and what went wrong so soldiers can learn from their successes and failures. Shares in defence giants rose  Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing shares rose on Monday, after a weekend of deals between US companies and Saudi Arabia. This came after President Trump's first visit to Saudi Arabia, where a $110bn arms package was announced.  Lockheed Martin signed a $6bn deal to assemble 150 Blackhawk helicopters with the potential of future orders. Raytheon also inked agreements for local defence contracts. Boeing has secured aircraft and helicopter contracts, announcing on Sunday that it has agreed to a potential sale of 16 wide-body commercial aircraft to a Saudi airline. Thanks for listening. --- THIS EPISODE BROUGHT TO YOU BY: GAP WIRELESS Headquartered in Mississauga Ontario, Gap Wireless was created to support the continuous and rapid growth in the mobile wireless and electronics development and manufacturing markets. We have a National presence through our valued network of employees and customers supported through a growing list of suppliers from around the world. Gap Wireless has partnered with the best of breed manufacturers in the mobile wireless Infrastructure, Coverage Enhancement, and Test & Measurement space to allow us to focus on and support our key customers in the Manufacturing, Wireless Service Provider, Government, Enterprise, Education, and Public Safety sectors with the most up to date solutions. Gap Wireless serves both public and private sector clients with Wireless Technology solutions and onsite professionals in support of these main disciplines: PCS/Cellular Infrastructure and Coverage Enhancement Test & Measurement Equipment Power Products RF & Microwave Coaxial Components RF, Power, Data, Audio Cable Assemblies Custom Solutions For more information, please visit: https://www.gapwirelessonline.com/

AI to model brains and Commissioner Hutchinson's vision of the Coast Guard   In this episode of Vanguard Radio, Marcello Sukhdeo talks about the delay in Canada's new defence policy, also he touches on a new military research program that aims to model artificially intelligent systems after the brains of living creatures and shares a snippet of an interview that he did with Commissioner Hutchinson of the Canadian Coast Guard.    Show Notes:   New defence policy   Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced that the new defence policy which was expected this week would be released on June 7.   This will be after the Prime Minister attends a meeting with other NATO leaders in Brussels on May 25.   This week the Defence Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister will hold scheduled talks in Washington with the Trump administration. This move has infuriated many from the opposition including Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose who said, “I know the chamber has not seen it, members of Parliament have not seen it, and the military has not seen it.”   “Why do Washington insiders get privileged access to Canadian defence policies before the Canadian public does and before the Canadian military does?” she said in question period.   Currently, Canada spends less than one per cent of GDP on defence, which is way below NATO's target of two per cent. So, it will be interesting to see what the increase will be like when new defence policy is released on June 7th.   AI to model brains   A new military research program in the US aiming to model artificially intelligent systems after the brains of living creatures. The reason - biological systems don't completely freeze up when they encounter a new situation, but computers often do.   When an organism encounters a new environment or situation, it relies on past experience to help it make a decision. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, relies on data, and if it hasn't encountered a specific situation before or don't have the date then it can't select the next step.   The program named the Defense Advanced Research Projects Activity is searching for technology that constantly updates its decision-making framework to merge experience and new “lessons learned” to situations it encounters instead to what is being done today, that is to retrain the machine learning's system with new relevant data sets relevant to manage the situation, by erasing the previous programming in favor of the new data.      Interview with Commissioner Hutchinson   Snippet of an interview with the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, Jeffery Hutchinson on his focus and vision of the Canadian Coast Guard and as compared to that of his predecessor.  

"I think the hyperbole... the attack on his character, the attack on his service... is wildly out of touch with what has occurred.” – Erin O'Toole This week, Navigator Senior Consultant, Colin MacDonald, discusses the controversy surrounding Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan's comments that he was "the architect" of Operation Medusa.

Global News Ottawa correspondent David Akin discusses ramafications for the the minister after Sajjan he officially retracted his statement insinuating that he planned the operation.

U.S. defence officials briefed Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan in advance of Thursday’s American cruise missile attack targeting a Syrian air force base suspected of being the launching pad for a deadly chemical weapons attack that claimed the lives of at least 80 people in northern Syria, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Friday.

The Senate Committee on National Security and Defence looked into the governments plans to dramatically increase Canadas participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations at the request of Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, said committee chair Senator Daniel Lang.