MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – October 17, 2012
- Afghanistan (1a) Question Monday during Question Period: “Mr. Matthew Kellway (Beaches—East York, NDP): Mr. Speaker, in September 2008, the Prime Minister said that a decade of war in Afghanistan was enough, and a motion passed in the House agreed there would be no more combat operations by Canada after December 31, 2011. Now we learn that Canadian soldiers continue to be deployed in combat roles in the volatile region at the centre of the Taliban insurgency. Why did the Prime Minister break his promise? Why are the Conservatives violating their own 2008 motion to end combat operations in 2011? Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of National Defence, CPC): Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Combat operations in Afghanistan for Canadian soldiers have ended. We do in fact have a very small number as of October 15, less than a half dozen, who are taking part in a long-standing tradition, which is exchanges with countries such as Great Britain, Australia, United States, NATO allies. This is a long-standing international practice in which Canadian Forces benefit from professional development. In fact, we receive forces from other countries to take part in this type of exchange, something I am sure the hon. member would support …. This is a long-standing practice where we have less than half a dozen members who participate in exchange programs with other NATO countries. It is a long-standing practice. There are no combat operations when it comes to Canadian soldiers. This is in keeping with the parliamentary motion ….“
- Afghanistan (1b) “For the second day in row, Defence Minister Peter MacKay fended off Opposition attacks Tuesday over Canadian troops serving in combat roles with allies in Afghanistan. Fewer than half a dozen members of the military — most of them with the air force — are part of exchange programs with British, Australian and U.S. forces, all of which are still engaged in anti-Taliban operations in Kandahar. New Democrat defence critic Jack Harris accused MacKay of misleading the House of Commons and the public, which expected no Canadians would be in harm’s way after Canada withdrew from southern Afghanistan last year. Harris also said the exchange program violates the motion passed by the Commons in 2008, which ordered an end to Canadian combat operations by the end of 2011. MacKay denied the exchange program contravened the motion and says the participation is part of the country’s broader policy of co-operating with allies. “This is very much about Canada continuing its long-standing commitment to work with our allies in Afghanistan and around the world,” he said ….”
- “The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, will introduce Canada’s latest satellite to increase space situational awareness (Thursday) ….”
- “The Honourable Vic Toews, Canada’s Public Safety Minister, along with Shelly Glover, Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Finance, will make an announcement related to government cyber security (today)….”
- (Belated) Congrats! “Master Corporal Maxime Lahaye-Lemay was awarded the prestigious Search and Rescue Technician of the Year Award on September 21 at the 2012 National SAREX in Val d’Or, Que. “I feel honoured to receive this award,” he said. Presented on behalf of the ParaRescue Association of Canada, MCpl Lahaye-Lemay was selected from among his search and rescue technician (SAR tech) peers, and recognized for “outstanding service to the SAR community.” The award stemmed from the October 27, 2011, rescue of Inuit hunters who were stranded in an open boat in icy waters of the Arctic Ocean near Igloolik, Nunavut ….”
- Remember this Cadet officer being charged with sexual assault? The court martial’s apparently underway….
- Delisle Spy Case “Mr. Black” raises a range of questions about the case
- Historian on museum mandates “…. Have any of these people been in the museum lately? First, the Canadian War Museum covers Canada’s military history superbly, including much on peacekeeping. Does anyone really believe the revamped history museum will need to cover the same ground? As for a museum of peace, the huge exhibits in CMC on First Nations history already have much fighting in them. I don’t know what will be in the updated museum, but I expect that most of the conflicts described will be between political parties, unions and bosses, and men and women–in other words, Canada’s history. And if it’s politicized, then the Museum Corporation, by statute arm’s length from government, will have been weak-kneed and will deserve to have its galleries altered when a new government comes to power.”
