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Auditor-General: F-35 purchase poses "risks"

Auditor-General Sheila Fraser’s latest report describes the acquisition of Cyclone and Chinook helicopters as “troubling”, and details how government agencies presented the purchases as simple and low risk while continuously lowballing estimated costs in order have them approved.  This resulted in seven- and five-year-long delays, respectively, and huge price increases — of approximately 80% in […]

New poll shows Canadians committed to peacekeeping

A new Nanos research poll conducted for the Globe and Mail indicates that Canadians think peacekeeping is more important than combat missions (Campbell Clark, ”Canadians pick peacekeeping over combat,” Globe and Mail, 25 October 2010). According to the poll, Canadians are strongly opposed to sending troops on any future missions reminiscent of Canada’s role in […]

Canada backs NATO missile defence

The Harper government has pledged its support for a proposed NATO missile defence system for Europe (Juliet O’Neill, “Canada backs European missile defence program,” Postmedia News, 20 October 2010): The Conservative government says it supports a European ballistic missile defence system proposed for approval by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the other NATO leaders at […]

Aerospace companies jump into the fray over F-35s

From the Department of Dog-Bites-Man: The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada is warning Canadians not to cancel the Harper government’s plan to purchase F-35 fighters (“Cancelation [sic] of F-35 purchase threatens Canadian jobs,” Aerospace Industries Association of Canada communique, 14 October 2010). Just in case anyone thought they were in favour of cancelling the purchase. […]

Canadian troops destroyed villages to save them?

A New York Times report (Carlotta Gall, “In Afghan South, U.S. Faces Frustrated Residents,” 16 October 2010) on the frustration and disillusion expressed by Afghan civilians in the region around Kandahar cites Canadian actions as one of the sources of complaints: Three years ago, Canadian troops built a temporary post near Lora. When they immediately […]