MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 16 June 12
- “The federal government will stop the clawback on pensions of disabled veterans starting on July 1, but it’s still negotiating retroactive payments to those covered by a Federal Court ruling. Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced an end to the clawbacks in a statement on Friday, two weeks after the Harper government decided not to appeal a court ruling that sided with veterans. A class-action lawsuit was filed in March 2007 on behalf of Dennis Manuge and 4,500 other disabled veterans whose long-term disability benefits are reduced by the amount of the monthly Veterans Affairs disability pension they receive. MacKay called Manuge to tell him about the end to the deductions. But the minister said in his statement that federal lawyers are still working to obtain a “mutually acceptable settlement” for repayment of benefits that have been clawed back, in some cases for decades. It is unclear how much that will cost or how far back the payments will go. Manuge, at point, estimated as much as $320 million was at stake. But senior defence sources say the figure could run as high as $600 million, depending upon the negotiations ….”
- “Former Roseau River chief Terry Nelson held an unofficial campaign event Thursday. Nelson is running for national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. He held a public forum to share his thoughts about the possibility of a conflict between First Nations and the Canadian military. Nelson says the likelihood is small, but First Nations should be prepared. Queen’s University professor and retired Lt.-Col. Douglas Bland was on hand with Nelson. He lent expertise and knowledge of the Canadian military to the crowd ….” That’s this Douglas Bland ….
- Dog Bites Man: Letters to the Toronto Star whinge about Canada’s military
- F-35 Tug o’ War “A U.S. government spending watchdog raised more red flags about soaring costs, delays and major failures in the F-35 stealth fighter jet program …. warning also of the impact the setbacks will have on eight other countries taking part in the project, including Canada. The detailed report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office on F-35 testing and development problems—which the report suggested the program as it was originally planned is at risk—came out only a day after the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) unveiled a high-level committee of bureaucrats and outside experts, including former federal auditor general Denis Desautels, that will take charge of Canada’s F-35 acquisition program following a scathing report from Auditor General Michael Ferguson last April. The F-35 report from the U.S. Congress Budget Accountability Office, a spending watchdog for all U.S. government programs that also has investigative powers, revealed development delays that could affect the Canadian government’s original plan to begin acquiring fully operational F-35s by 2020—the year the government has cited for retirement of Canada’s only fleet of fighter jets …. “
- Congratulations! “Three Canadian Forces (CF) Search and Rescue (SAR) technicians from 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron will receive the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea, at a ceremony to be held in London, U.K., on November 26, 2012. Sergeant Jannick Gilbert, Master Corporal Max Lahaye-Lemay, and Master Corporal Marco Journeyman will receive this prestigious honour for saving the lives of two Inuit hunters stranded in icy waters near Igloolik, Nunavut, on October 27, 2011. Tragically, Sergeant Jannick Gilbert perished during the rescue and will receive this award posthumously.“The International Maritime Organization plays a vital role in promoting safety at sea and their recognition of Sergeant Jannick Gilbert, Master Corporal Max Lahaye-Lemay, and Master Corporal Marco Journeyman with this prestigious award is a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of these members in their service to our nation,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence ….” - more from the IMO here.
- Caveat: Under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, “any person charged with an offence has the right …. to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal” “Canadian Forces Military Police charged a Master Corporal from CFB Edmonton this week for offences related to child pornography. MCpl Clayton Holloway now faces the following charges …. The alleged material was discovered on the member’s personal computer while he was serving on deployment in Afghanistan. Once made aware of the allegations, his chain of command immediately repatriated him back to Canada. The case will now proceed through the military justice system ….” - a bit more here.
- RCAF Info-machine: They’re back from South America & Jamaica (and here’s the story 3 weeks later) “An RCAF detachment, named Task Force PANAM and composed of an element of the CF-18 fighter force including the 2012 CF-18 Demonstration Team, with airlift and air to air refuelling support, conducted Operation SOUTHERN REACH from May 5 to 26, 2012 to increase its professional bonds with air forces in South America and Jamaica. The final phase of the deployment saw the detachment landing in Kingston, Jamaica on 22 May. This particular destination was a natural fit for the operation as Canada and Jamaica enjoy close, longstanding, and historic bilateral relations that include hemispheric and international cooperation, as well as security and defence cooperation ….”
- Mo’ Canadians in the Caribbean “Coast Guard, law enforcement and military ground forces from the U.S., Canada and 15 Caribbean Partner Nations, gathered (in Christ Church, Barbados) …. to mark the official start of Exercise Tradewinds 2012. The ceremony featured welcoming comments and remarks from senior Barbadian and U.S. military officers focusing on the importance of the 28th iteration of the annual event. “Over the years, Exercise Tradewinds has been recognized as an ideal training framework for improving cooperation and interoperability among partner nations in the efforts to counter the myriad security and other challenges confronting this hemisphere,” said Barbados Defence Force Chief of Staff Col. Alvin E. Quintyne. Tradewinds is a U.S. Southern Command, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved, inter-agency, multinational exercise designed to enhance the collective abilities of Caribbean Partner Nation Defense Forces and constabularies to Counter Transnational Organized Crime, and conduct Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations ….”
- Muy bueno! ”The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) top officer hosted the 52nd annual Conferencia de los Jefes de las Fuerzas Aereas Americanas – Conference of the Air Chiefs of the Americas, or CONJEFAMER, this week in Ottawa. The Commander of the RCAF, Lieutenant-General (LGen) André Deschamps, presided over CONJEFAMER 2012, which brought together air force chiefs from 18 member countries and three observer air forces to discuss mutual collaboration and security throughout the Americas and to foster cooperation and friendship ….”
- “On behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Jay Aspin, Member of Parliament for Nipissing–Timiskaming, will speak at the official unveiling of the new memorial in East Ferris, Ontario (today) ….”
